Malurus is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.
Taxonomy The genus Malurus was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, Motacilla cyanea Latham, the superb fairywren. This is the type species. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek μαλος/malos meaning "soft" or "delicate" with ουρα/oura meaning "tail".
Species The genus contains 12 species: 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.