Photo: Nicolas Huet / Jean Gabriel Prêtre / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Island Monarch
Monarcha cinerascens
Island Monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Island Monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) is a member of the Monarchidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 29.6 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 Monarcha
- Species cinerascens
Where it lives
Mainly islets from Sulawesi region and Lesser Sundas to Bismarck Arch. and northern Solomon Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Island Monarch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Island Monarch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Island Monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) is a member of the Monarchidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU mainly islets from Sulawesi region and Lesser Sundas to Bismarck Arch. and n Solomon Is.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.6 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 6.9 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 148,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Island Monarch?
The Island Monarch is a small bird that weighs around 29.6 g.
Where does the Island Monarch live?
The Island Monarch is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU mainly islets from Sulawesi region and Lesser Sundas to Bismarck Arch. and n Solomon Is, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Island Monarch belong to?
The Island Monarch (Monarcha cinerascens) belongs to the Monarchidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Island Monarch eat?
The Island Monarch is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Island Monarch migrate?
The Island Monarch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Island 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 Island Monarch make?
1 real field recording of the Island Monarch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Island Monarch's range?
The Island Monarch has a mapped global range of about 148,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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