Irena puella malayensis

(Moore, 1854)

Vernacular names
English : Asian fairy-bluebird
French : Irène vierge

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Irenidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known

Identification
Adults can reach a total length of 25.8 cm for a weight of 75 g. Female is dull blue with black stripes on wings. Male is black with bright blue crown, back, upper wings and tail coverts. This subspecies has blue tail coverts extend beyond mid-tail length.

Range and habitat
Subspecies endemic to southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Species also found in Malaysia and west Indonesia. Lives in tropical evergreen forest, montane forest and plantations, to 1900 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : This species is mostly common in its range but the subspecies from Sumatra and Java are highly threatened by relentless trapping for trade and habitat loss. Palawan subspecies in trouble too.
Ex-Situ Programs : EEP in Europe

Observation
Zoo Melaka (Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur Bird Park (Malaysia), Jurong Bird Park (Singapore)

 

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