Monarchs

The monarch family, Monarchidae, includes over 100 species of passerine birds such as shrikebills, paradise flycatchers, and magpie-larks, primarily found across sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific islands. These small to medium-sized birds mainly feed on insects, often catching prey in flight. Monarchids are known for their song and long tails, and many species exhibit striking plumage with vivid colors and significant sexual dimorphism. Although the majority are non-migratory, there are a few partial and full migrators. They inhabit various environments, from dense forests to open woodlands, savannahs, and mangroves, with magpie-larks also found in Australian habitats, except for the driest deserts. Monarchs usually build cup-shaped nests that may be decorated with lichen, and while most are monogamous and territorial, some may nest cooperatively or near more aggressive bird species for protection. This bird family, once classified differently based on physical traits and behaviors, has been reorganized due to modern molecular evidence linking them through a common ancestor, leading to their status as a distinct family with various genera and species, some adapted to unique island contexts.