Monarcha is a genus of bird in the family Monarchidae. They are found in Australia and Melanesia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Monarcha was introduced by naturalists Nicholas Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827 with the black-faced monarch (Monarcha melanopsis) as the type species. The genus formerly included many more species. Based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2005 nineteen species were moved to the resurrected genus Symposiachrus and three to Carterornis.

Extant species

The genus Monarcha contains the following seven species:

ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Island monarchMonarcha cinerascensSulawesi to the Solomon Islands.
Black-faced monarchMonarcha melanopsisAustralia and New Guinea
Black-winged monarchMonarcha fraterAustralia and New Guinea
Chestnut-bellied monarch includes Bougainville monarchMonarcha castaneiventrisSolomon Islands.
White-capped monarchMonarcha richardsiiWestern Province in the Solomon Islands.
Yap monarchMonarcha godeffroyiYap Main Islands, Micronesia.
Tinian monarchMonarcha takatsukasaeNorthern Mariana Islands.

Former species

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Monarcha: