Pale-blue Monarch

Taxobox
name = Pale-blue Monarch
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Dicruridae
genus = "Hypothymis"
species = "H. puella "
binomial = "Hypothymis puella "
binomial_authority = (Wallace, 1863)

The Pale-blue Monarch, "Hypothymis puella", is a small passerine bird. It was previously classified with the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, but the paradise flycatchers, monarch flycatchers and Australasian fantails are now normally grouped with the drongos in the family Dicruridae, which has most of its members in Australasia and tropical southern Asia.

The Pale-blue Monarch is endemic to eastern Indonesia. It has two subspecies. The nominate race, "H. p. puella", is found on Sulawesi and adjacent islands, and "H. p. blasii" is found in the Banggai archipelago. Both forms are often considered to be subspecies of the widespread Black-naped Monarch, "Hypothymis azurea".

The Pale-blue Monarch is a forest species which builds a small cup nest. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, often hunting by flycatching.

References

* [http://members.aol.com/sbsp/clements4thto5th.htm#SPLITS Clements splits]