The Chuuk monarch (''Metabolus rugensis''), or Truk monarch, is a species of bird in the family

Monarchidae The monarchs (family Monarchidae) comprise a family of over 100 passerine birds which includes shrikebills, paradise flycatchers, and magpie-larks. Monarchids are small insectivorous songbirds with long tails. They inhabit forest or woodland a ...

. It is monotypic within the genus ''

Metabolus ''Metabolus'' is a monotypic genus of bird in the family Monarchidae found in Australia and Melanesia. Taxonomy and systematics Extant species The genus ''Metabolus'' presently contains only a single species: * Chuuk monarch (''Metabolus rugens ...

''. It is endemic to the island of Chuuk in Micronesia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Chuuk monarch was originally described as belonging to the genus ''

Muscicapa ''Muscicapa'' is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, and therein to the typical flycatchers of subfamily Muscicapinae. They are widespread across Europe, Africa and Asia with most species occur ...

''.

Description

The Chuuk monarch is a large monarch flycatcher, around 20 cm long. The

plumage Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...

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 Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

, and plantations.

Threats

It is threatened by habitat loss, with the development of the island and the loss of its forest home.

References

External links

BirdLife Species Factsheet.
Chuuk monarch Birds of the Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk monarch Chuuk monarch Chuuk monarch Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Monarchidae-stub