Fiji shrikebill


The Fiji shrikebill is a songbird species in the family Monarchidae. It is found in American Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Fiji shrikebill was originally described as belonging to the genus Myiolestes. Alternate names include the lesser shrikebill and uniform shrikebill.

Subspecies

Twelve subspecies are recognized:Rotuman lesser shrikebill - Mayr, 1933: Found on Rotuma Island C. v. brunneus - : Found on Kadavu, Ono and Vanua Kula C. v. buensis – : Originally described as a separate species in the genus Myiolestes. Found on Vanua Levu and Kioa C. v. vitiensis – : Found in western FijiC. v. layardi – Mayr, 1933: Found on Taveuni C. v. pontifex – Mayr, 1933: Found on Qamea and Rabi Vanuatu lesser shrikebill – Mayr, 1933: Found on northern Lau Islands C. v. nesiotes – : Originally described as a separate species. Found on southern Lau Islands Futuna lesser shrikebill – : Originally described as a separate species in the genus Myiolestes. Found on Futuna and Alofi C. v. heinei – : Originally described as a separate species in the genus Myiolestes. Found on central Tonga IslandsC. v. keppeli – Mayr, 1933: Found on Niuatoputapu and Tafahi Manu'a shrikebill – : Originally described as a separate species. Found on Samoa but may have gone extinct in the 1990s due to habitat destruction