The Solomons rufous fantail (''Rhipidura rufofronta'') is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae that is endemic to the Solomon Islands. It was formerly considered to be a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the Australian rufous fantail (''Rhipidura rufifrons'').

Taxonomy

The Solomons rufous fantail was formally described in 1879 by the Australian ornithologist Edward Pierson Ramsay based on a specimen that had been collected by James F. Cockerell on

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...

in the Solomon Islands. Ramsay coined the

binomial name In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''Rhissidura rufofronta'' (with the genus name ''Rhipidura'' misspelled). The specific epithet combines Latin ''rufus'' meaning "red" with ''frons'', ''frontis'' meaning "forehead" or "brow". The Solomons rufous fantail was formerly considered to be a

of the rufous fantail (renamed the Australian rufous fantail) (''Rhipidura rufifrons'') but is now treated as a separate species mainly based on the genetic differences. Seven subspecies are recognised: * ''R. r. commoda'' Hartert, EJO, 1918 – Buka to Isabel (north to central east Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. rufofronta'' Ramsay, EP, 1879 –

(south Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. granti'' Hartert, EJO, 1918 – New Georgia group (central west Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. brunnea'' Mayr, 1931 –

Malaita Malaita is the primary island of Malaita Province in Solomon Islands. Malaita is the most populous island of the Solomon Islands, with a population of 161,832 as of 2021, or more than a third of the entire national population. It is also the se ...

(southeast Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. russata'' Tristram, 1879 – Makira (southeast Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. kuperi'' Mayr, 1931 –

Owaraha Owaraha or Owa Raha (also known as Santa Ana) is an island in Makira-Ulawa Province, Solomon Islands. Description This relatively small coral island is 5.6 km long and 4.5 km wide. It is located at the eastern end of Makira (San Cristob ...

(or Santa Ana) (east of Makira, southeast Solomon Islands) * ''R. r. ugiensis'' Mayr, 1931 – Ugi (north of Makira, southeast Solomon Islands)

References

Solomons rufous fantail Solomons rufous fantail {{Rhipiduridae-stub