Orange-crowned Fairy-wren
Encyclopedia
The Orange-crowned Fairy-wren (Clytomyias insignis) is a species of bird
in the Maluridae
family. It is monotypic
within the genus Clytomyias.
It is found in Indonesia
and Papua New Guinea
. Its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical moist montane
s.
First collected in the Arfak Mountains
, the Orange-crowned Fairywren was described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe
in 1879. Molecular study indicates it forms a clade with the emu-wrens of the genus Stipiturus. Two subspecies are recognised, the nominate subspecies insignis from the Bird's Head Peninsula
in far western New Guinea, and subspecies oorti from the highlands of central New Guinea, ranging from western Irian Jaya to the Owen Stanley Range
of southeastern Papua New Guinea. The latter was described in 1907 by Rothschild and Hartert.
Unlike many other species of fairywren, there is no sexual dimorphism
: the male and female have the same plumage. The head is a rusty orange colour, the thighs and tail rufous, the back olive brown and the wings brown. The bill is relatively broad compared with other fairywrens and is black in colour. The eyes are dark brown, and the legs pinkish brown. The two subspecies are distinguishable by their underparts, which are cream-white in insignis and more ochre-coloured in oorti.
The Orange-crowned Fairywren is found in thick undergrowth of montane rainforest at an altitude of 2000–3000 m (6–10,000 ft). It is generally encountered in pairs or small groups of six to eight birds. Very little is known about its courtship behaviour or breeding.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Maluridae
Maluridae
The Maluridae are a family of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Commonly known as wrens, they are unrelated to the true wrens of the Northern Hemisphere...
family. It is monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Clytomyias.
It is found in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical moist montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
s.
First collected in the Arfak Mountains
Arfak Mountains
The Arfak Mountains are a mountain range found on the Bird's Head Peninsula in the Province of West Papua, Indonesia. The mountain range is rugged and remote, rising up to 7,700 feet above sea level...
, the Orange-crowned Fairywren was described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe
Richard Bowdler Sharpe
Richard Bowdler Sharpe was an English zoologist.-Biography:Sharpe was born in London and studied at Brighton College, The King's School, Peterborough and Loughborough Grammar School. At the age of sixteen he went to work for Smith & Sons in London...
in 1879. Molecular study indicates it forms a clade with the emu-wrens of the genus Stipiturus. Two subspecies are recognised, the nominate subspecies insignis from the Bird's Head Peninsula
Bird's Head Peninsula
The Bird's Head Peninsula or Doberai Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the northwest portion of the Province of West Papua, Indonesia.-Location and geography:...
in far western New Guinea, and subspecies oorti from the highlands of central New Guinea, ranging from western Irian Jaya to the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
of southeastern Papua New Guinea. The latter was described in 1907 by Rothschild and Hartert.
Unlike many other species of fairywren, there is no sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
: the male and female have the same plumage. The head is a rusty orange colour, the thighs and tail rufous, the back olive brown and the wings brown. The bill is relatively broad compared with other fairywrens and is black in colour. The eyes are dark brown, and the legs pinkish brown. The two subspecies are distinguishable by their underparts, which are cream-white in insignis and more ochre-coloured in oorti.
The Orange-crowned Fairywren is found in thick undergrowth of montane rainforest at an altitude of 2000–3000 m (6–10,000 ft). It is generally encountered in pairs or small groups of six to eight birds. Very little is known about its courtship behaviour or breeding.
Cited text
- BirdLife International 2004. Clytomyias insignis.2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007.
- Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the WorldHandbook of the Birds of the WorldThe Handbook of the Birds of the World is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions. It is the first handbook to cover every known living species of bird. The series is edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal and David A Christie.So far, 15...
. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422
