Malurus

Malurus
Male superb fairywren
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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 bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.

Taxonomy and systematics

Extant species

The following table reports the English names proposed for the twelve species recognised by the listing of the International Ornithologist Committee

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
	Malurus cyanocephalus	Emperor fairywren	New Guinea
	Malurus amabilis	Lovely fairywren	North-eastern Australia
	Malurus assimilis	Purple-backed fairywren	Central and Western Australia
	Malurus lamberti	Variegated fairywren	Eastern Australia
	Malurus pulcherrimus	Blue-breasted fairywren	Southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
	Malurus elegans	Red-winged fairywren	South-western corner of Western Australia
	Malurus cyaneus	Superb fairywren	Australia and lowland New Guinea
	Malurus splendens	Splendid fairywren	Central and Western Australia
	Malurus coronatus	Purple-crowned fairywren	Northern Australia
	Malurus alboscapulatus	White-shouldered fairywren	New Guinea
	Malurus melanocephalus	Red-backed fairywren	Australia
	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. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2