Chuuk monarch
The Chuuk monarch, or Truk monarch (Metabolus rugensis) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is monotypic within the genus Metabolus.[2] It is endemic to the island of Chuuk in Micronesia.
| Chuuk monarch | |
|---|---|
_-_Monarchidae_-_bird_skin_specimen.jpeg.webp) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Monarchidae |
| Genus: | Metabolus |
| Species: | M. rugensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Metabolus rugensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and systematics
The Chuuk monarch was originally described as belonging to the genus Muscicapa.
Description
The Chuuk monarch is a large monarch flycatcher, around 20 cm long. The plumage of this species is sexually dimorphic, with the male having almost entirely white plumage with a black face and throat and the female having entirely black plumage. The large bill is pale blue.
Distribution and habitat
The natural habitats of the Chuuk monarch are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and plantations.
Threats
It is threatened by habitat loss, with the development of the island and the loss of its forest home.
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Metabolus rugensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22707227A94111958. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22707227A94111958.en.
- Thomas M. Brooks; John D. Pilgrim; Ana S. L. Rodrigues & Gustavo A. B. Da Fonseca (2005). "Conservation status and geographic distribution of avian evolutionary history". In Andy Purvis; John L. Gittleman & Thomas Brooks (eds.). Phylogeny and Conservation. Conservation Biology. 8. Cambridge University Press. pp. 267–294. ISBN 978-0-521-82502-3.