Silktail
Encyclopedia
The Silktail, Lamprolia victoriae is a species of bird endemic to Fiji
. It is the only member of the genus Lamprolia. This beautiful bird looks superficially like a diminutive bird of paradise but it is actually closely related to the fantail
s.
wrote "I scarcely remember a bird which has puzzled me in respect of its generic position so much as this curious little creature". It has variously been placed with the birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae), the Australasian robins
(Petroicidae) and the fairy-wren
s (Maluridae). Since 1980 it has generally been considered to be an ancient and aberrant monarch flycatcher. A 2009 molecular study placed the species as a sister to the Pygmy Drongo
of the highlands of New Guinea
, and the two of these as a sister clade to the fantail
s (Rhipiduridae).
The genus Lamprolia is named after the diminutive of lampros (Ancient Greek
) for splendid or brilliant. Finsch named the species after Victoria
, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria
, who was then Crown Princess of Germany. The subspecies L. v. kleinschmidti is named for Theodor Kleinschmidt, a collector from Museum Godeffroy
in Hamburg, who obtained the first specimens.
of the male is velvet black with metallic blue iridescent
spangling on the crown and breast, and silky white lower-back patch that travels most of the length down the tail. The margin of the tail is black, sometimes this tip has the same iridescence as other parts of the body. The female is similar to the male, except less glossy, and immature birds are duller than the adults and may have buffy rumps and backs. The irises of this species are dark, and the legs and bill are blackish. The bill is heavy and slightly hooked at the end. The legs are long and the feet strong. The subspecies L. v. kleinschmidti is smaller than the nominate race and has more iridescence plumage than the nominate.
to forests of Taveuni
and Vanua Levu
in Fiji
. It occurs widely on Taveuni, but has a more restricted distribution on Vanua Levu, where it only occurs in the east of the island on the Natewa Peninsula. It occurs in mature wet rainforests, as well as forest patches, and is also found in human-modified habitats such as logged forests and in plantations near patches of natural forest.
The diet consists mainly of insects, worms and arthropods.
, where it only occurs on the Natewa Peninsula. It is more widespread on Taveuni. Forest clearance for mahogany
plantations and general forest clearance within its range have led to the species being listed as vulnerable
in 1994, however this was downgraded to near threatened
in 2006. While its habitat is being lost, it is not yet severely fragmented. On Taveuni forest clearance is slower than Vanua Levu and the population is estimated to be around 5,000-8,000 pairs. The population in Vanua Levu is smaller, at around 3,000-6,000 pairs. A reserve for the species has been proposed on Vanua Leu, but has not yet been gazetted. On Taveuni it occurs within the Ravilevu Nature Reserve and the Bourna National Heritage Park.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. It is the only member of the genus Lamprolia. This beautiful bird looks superficially like a diminutive bird of paradise but it is actually closely related to the fantail
Fantail
Fantails are small insectivorous birds of southern Asia and Australasia belonging to the genus Rhipidura in the family Rhipiduridae...
s.
Taxonomy and systematics
The systematic position of the Silktail has been a long-standing mystery. When describing the species Otto FinschOtto Finsch
Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch was a German ethnographer, naturalist and colonial explorer.-Biography:...
wrote "I scarcely remember a bird which has puzzled me in respect of its generic position so much as this curious little creature". It has variously been placed with the birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae), the Australasian robins
Petroicidae
The bird family Petroicidae includes roughly 45 species in about 15 genera. All are endemic to Australasia: New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and numerous Pacific Islands as far east as Samoa. For want of an accurate common name, the family is often called the Australasian robins. Within the...
(Petroicidae) and the fairy-wren
Maluridae
The Maluridae are a family of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Commonly known as wrens, they are unrelated to the true wrens of the Northern Hemisphere...
s (Maluridae). Since 1980 it has generally been considered to be an ancient and aberrant monarch flycatcher. A 2009 molecular study placed the species as a sister to the Pygmy Drongo
Pygmy Drongo
The Pygmy Drongo is a species of bird endemic to the island of New Guinea. It is monotypic within the genus Chaetorhynchus. The species was long placed within the drongo family Dicruridae, but it differs from others in that family in having twelve rectrices instead of ten...
of the highlands of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, and the two of these as a sister clade to the fantail
Fantail
Fantails are small insectivorous birds of southern Asia and Australasia belonging to the genus Rhipidura in the family Rhipiduridae...
s (Rhipiduridae).
The genus Lamprolia is named after the diminutive of lampros (Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
) for splendid or brilliant. Finsch named the species after Victoria
Victoria, Princess Royal
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert. She was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841. She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III...
, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, who was then Crown Princess of Germany. The subspecies L. v. kleinschmidti is named for Theodor Kleinschmidt, a collector from Museum Godeffroy
Museum Godeffroy
The Museum Godeffroy was a museum in Hamburg, Germany, which existed from 1861 to 1885.The collection was founded by Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy, who became a wealthy shipping magnate a few years after the expansion of the his trade towards Australia and the South Seas. His expert collectors and...
in Hamburg, who obtained the first specimens.
Description
The Silktail is a small black bird, measuring around 12 centimetres (4.7 in) and weighing 16 to 21 g (0.564383393681791 to 0.740753204207351 oz). It is a small, dumpy bird with long rounded wings, and a short rounded tail. The plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
of the male is velvet black with metallic blue iridescent
Iridescence
Iridescence is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes...
spangling on the crown and breast, and silky white lower-back patch that travels most of the length down the tail. The margin of the tail is black, sometimes this tip has the same iridescence as other parts of the body. The female is similar to the male, except less glossy, and immature birds are duller than the adults and may have buffy rumps and backs. The irises of this species are dark, and the legs and bill are blackish. The bill is heavy and slightly hooked at the end. The legs are long and the feet strong. The subspecies L. v. kleinschmidti is smaller than the nominate race and has more iridescence plumage than the nominate.
Distribution and habitat
The Silktail is endemicEndemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
to forests of Taveuni
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
and Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. It occurs widely on Taveuni, but has a more restricted distribution on Vanua Levu, where it only occurs in the east of the island on the Natewa Peninsula. It occurs in mature wet rainforests, as well as forest patches, and is also found in human-modified habitats such as logged forests and in plantations near patches of natural forest.
Behaviour
The Silktail can be quite elusive and difficult to see, but may also be confiding and approachable. It is usually very active at dawn, and is encountered either singily or in small flocks.The diet consists mainly of insects, worms and arthropods.
Status and conservation
The Silktail is a restricted range species, being present only on two islands in Fiji. It is absent from apparently suitable habitat on Vanua LevuVanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, where it only occurs on the Natewa Peninsula. It is more widespread on Taveuni. Forest clearance for mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
plantations and general forest clearance within its range have led to the species being listed as vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
in 1994, however this was downgraded to near threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
in 2006. While its habitat is being lost, it is not yet severely fragmented. On Taveuni forest clearance is slower than Vanua Levu and the population is estimated to be around 5,000-8,000 pairs. The population in Vanua Levu is smaller, at around 3,000-6,000 pairs. A reserve for the species has been proposed on Vanua Leu, but has not yet been gazetted. On Taveuni it occurs within the Ravilevu Nature Reserve and the Bourna National Heritage Park.