Blue-capped Ifrit
Ifrita kowaldi
LCLeast Concern Endemic to New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea)
- Family
- Ifrit (Ifritidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The blue-capped ifrit (Ifrita kowaldi) is a species of small passerine bird in the monotypic family Ifritidae, native to the montane rainforests of New Guinea. These birds are insectivorous and are notable for their distinctive blue crown and presence of batrachotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, in their feathers and skin. This chemical defense is believed to come from their diet, particularly Choresine beetles. Blue-capped ifrits are non-aggressive and typically found in small groups within high altitude forest habitats.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Montane west-central to southeastern New Guinea.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Countries
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Blue-capped ifrit
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
