Photo: William Matthew Hart / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Monarch
Symposiachrus axillaris
Black Monarch (Symposiachrus axillaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Monarch (Symposiachrus axillaris) is a member of the Monarchidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 15.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Monarchidae Monarchs
- Genus Symposiachrus
- Species axillaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Monarch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Monarch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Monarch (Symposiachrus axillaris) is a species of bird in the Monarchidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane New Guinea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.6 g, with a wing length of about 7.8 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 119,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Monarch?
The Black Monarch is a small bird that weighs around 15.6 g.
Where does the Black Monarch live?
The Black Monarch is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Monarch belong to?
The Black Monarch (Symposiachrus axillaris) belongs to the Monarchidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Monarch eat?
The Black Monarch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Monarch migrate?
The Black Monarch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Monarch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Monarch make?
1 real field recording of the Black Monarch — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Monarch's range?
The Black Monarch has a mapped global range of about 119,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Monarchidae
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.