Malurus

Malurus
File:Superb blue Wren1.jpg
Male superb fairywren
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Maluridae
Genus:	Malurus Vieillot, 1816
Type species
Motacilla cyanea Ellis, 1782
Synonyms
Musciparus

Malurus is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.

Taxonomy

The genus Malurus was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, Motacilla cyanea Latham, the superb fairywren. This is the type species. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek μαλος/malos meaning "soft" or "delicate" with ουρα/oura meaning "tail".

Species

The genus contains 12 species:

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
File:Emperor Fairywren male 0A2A1576.jpg	Malurus cyanocephalus	Emperor fairywren	New Guinea
File:Lovely fairywren portland08.JPG	Malurus amabilis	Lovely fairywren	North-eastern Australia
File:Variegated fairy wren.jpg	Malurus assimilis	Purple-backed fairywren	Central and Western Australia
File:Variegated Fairy-wren male.jpg	Malurus lamberti	Variegated fairywren	Eastern Australia
File:Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (Malurus pulcherrimus) of Kings Park, Perth Western Australia.jpg	Malurus pulcherrimus	Blue-breasted fairywren	Southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
File:Red winged wren MR walk 3 email.jpg	Malurus elegans	Red-winged fairywren	South-western corner of Western Australia
File:Superb wren.jpg	Malurus cyaneus	Superb fairywren	Australia and lowland New Guinea
File:Splendid fairywren male cunnamulla.JPG	Malurus splendens	Splendid fairywren	Central and Western Australia
File:PCFW nb.jpg	Malurus coronatus	Purple-crowned fairywren	Northern Australia
File:Malurus alboscapulatus 456995085.jpg	Malurus alboscapulatus	White-shouldered fairywren	New Guinea
File:Red-backed Fairy-wren.jpg	Malurus melanocephalus	Red-backed fairywren	Australia
File:White-winged fairywren.jpg	Malurus leucopterus	White-winged fairywren	Central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus Malurus including:

• Wallace's fairywren (as Malurus wallacei and Malurus wallacii)
• Broad-billed fairywren (as Malurus grayi)
• Campbell's fairywren (as Malurus campbelli)

References

• Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions.