Shining flycatcher
The shining flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae.
It is found in northern Australia, and from the Moluccas to the Bismarck Archipelago.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or [tropical moist lowland forest] and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.
Description
A long-tailed, slender songbird with fine bill. Male entirely glossy blue-black. Female a rich chestnut above, white below, with black crown and face. Song a clear whistled "towhit-too-towhit."
Taxonomy and systematics
The shining flycatcher was originally described in the genus Drymophila and subsequently placed by some authorities in the genus Monarcha. Alternate names include common shining flycatcher, shining monarch, shining monarch flycatcher, shining Myiagra and shining Myiagra-flycatcher.
Subspecies
Eight subspecies are recognized:M. a. alecto - : Found in northern and central MoluccasM. a. longirostris - : Found on Tanimbar IslandsM. a. rufolateralis - : Originally described as a separate species. Found on the Aru Islands M. a. chalybeocephala - : Originally described as a separate species in the genus Muscicapa. Found on the western Papuan islands, New Guinea and the Bismarck ArchipelagoM. a. lucida - Gray, GR, 1858: Originally described as a separate species. Found on the eastern Papuan islands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade ArchipelagoM. a. manumudari - : Found on Manam M. a. melvillensis - : Found in north-western and north-central AustraliaM. a. wardelli - : Found in southern New Guinea, north-eastern and eastern Australia