Pale-blue monarch

The pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella) is a small passerine bird in the family Monarchidae endemic to eastern Indonesia.

Pale-blue monarch
female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Monarchidae
Genus:	Hypothymis
Species:	H. puella
Binomial name
Hypothymis puella (Wallace, 1863)
Subspecies
See text
Synonyms
Hypothymis azurea puella Myiagra puella

Taxonomy and systematics

The pale-blue monarch was originally described in the genus Myiagra and then classified as subspecies of the widespread black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea, until split by the IOC in 2013 to describe a new species.^[1] Some other authourities have not yet adopted this species split.^[2] The alternate name Moluccan monarch should not be confused with the species of the same name, Symposiachrus bimaculatus. Additional alternate names for the pale-blue monarch include Pacific monarch (a name shared with the buff-bellied monarch), Pacific small monarch and small monarch.

Pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella) from Tangkoko, Sulawesi

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:^[3]

• H. p. puella - (Wallace, 1863): Found on Sulawesi and adjacent islands
• H. p. blasii - Hartert, 1898: Found in the Banggai archipelago.

Behaviour and ecology

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.