White-shouldered fairywren

Appearance

The adult male is all shiny black except for their white shoulders, but unlike the better-known Australian fairywrens there is no eclipse male plumage. The tail is shorter than that of other fairywrens. The bill is black, and the feet and eyes are black or dark brown. The females of "M.a" "alboscapulatus" and "M.a" "naimii" bear a pied plumage, with black upperparts contrasting with white shoulders and underparts.

Naming

Six geographically isolated subspecies are currently recognized. They are differentiated by the differences in female plumage as the males of all six are indistinguishable.
⤷  "M. a." "alboscapulatus" - Meyer, 1874: The nominate subspecies, it is found on Bird's Head Peninsula
⤷  "M. a. aida" - Hartert, 1930: Found in north-western and north-central New Guinea
⤷  "M. a." "lorentzi" - van Oort, 1909: Originally described as a separate species. Found in western and southern New Guinea
⤷  "M. a." "kutubu" - Schodde & Hitchcock, 1968: Found in the highlands of south-central New Guinea
⤷  "M. a. moretoni" - De Vis, 1892: Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-eastern New Guinea
⤷  "M. a." "naimii" - d'Albertis, 1875: Originally described as a separate species. Found in eastern New Guinea

Habitat

The preferred habitats of the white-shouldered fairywren are lowland cleared areas; grassland, village gardens, and cane-grass.