Philippine Fairy-bluebird

SCI Name:  Irena cyanogastra
Protonym:  Irena cyanogastra Proc.Zool.Soc.London Pt1 no.8 p.97
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Irenidae / Irena
Taxonomy Code:  phifab1
Type Locality:  Manilla.
Author:  Vigors
Publish Year:  1831
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

IRENA
(Irenidae; Ϯ Asian Fairy-bluebird I. puella) Gr. myth. Irene or Eirene, goddess of peace and plenty (cf. "Eιρηνη, peace: - how connected I know not" (Ashmolean 1836)). "Gen. 16. IRENA.   ...   The striking and distinctive characters of this genus are, the nares covered with velvet-like feathers, from the base of which strong vibrissæ are protruded, the short feet and the weakness of the claws.  It is nearest to Turdus and Oriolus.  From the former it differs in the greater arch of the beak and the lateral convexity of the sides of the culmen; from the latter in the curvature of the beak and the elevation of the culmen.  It differs from both in the velvet-like covering of the nares, and in the lateral grooves of the upper mandible.  The bill is also shorter and more convex than in Meliphaga, which has a semblance of a similar membrane over the nares, but is destitute of the downy covering.    Spec. 1. Irena puella mihi.  Coracias puella, Lath. Ind. Orn.  171.  Bressi Javanis." (Horsfield 1821); "Irena Horsfield, 1821, Trans. Linn. Soc., 13, pl. 1, p. 153. Type, by monotypy, Coracias puella Latham." (Delacour in Peters 1960, IX, 307).
Var. Irene, Jrena.
Synon. Glauconympha, Irenella.

irena
Gr. myth. Irene, goddess of peace and plenty.
● ex “Merle vert des Moluques” of Brisson 1760, and “Brêve Irene” of Temminck 1836 (Hydrornis).

cyanogaster / cyanogastra
Gr. κυανος kuanos  dark-blue; γαστηρ gastēr, γαστρος gastros  belly (cf. L. cyanos  lapis lazuli; gaster, gasteris  belly).
● ex “Rollier à Ventre Bleu” of Levaillant 1806 (Coracias).

SUBSPECIES

Philippine Fairy-bluebird (cyanogastra)
SCI Name: Irena cyanogastra cyanogastra
cyanogaster / cyanogastra
Gr. κυανος kuanos  dark-blue; γαστηρ gastēr, γαστρος gastros  belly (cf. L. cyanos  lapis lazuli; gaster, gasteris  belly).
● ex “Rollier à Ventre Bleu” of Levaillant 1806 (Coracias).

Philippine Fairy-bluebird (ellae)
SCI Name: Irena cyanogastra ellae
ellae
Ella Beal (fl. 1890) cousin of US ornithologist Prof. Joseph Beal Steere (subsp. Irena cyanogastra).

Philippine Fairy-bluebird (melanochlamys)
SCI Name: Irena cyanogastra melanochlamys
melanochlamys
Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos  black; χλαμυς khlamus, χλαμυδος khlamudos  cloak, mantle.

Philippine Fairy-bluebird (hoogstraali)
SCI Name: Irena cyanogastra hoogstraali
hoogstraali
Dr Harold Hoogstraal (1917-1986) US entomologist, parasitologist, medical researcher, explorer in New Guinea, the Philippines, Madagascar and tropical Africa (subsp. Irena cyanogastra).