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White-winged Fairy-wren

(Malurus leucopterus)
Alternative name: "White-backed Wren"
Size: 12-13 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

White-winged Fairy-wrens are found only in the semi-arid and the most arid parts of the Australian continent. They are not found in the forested parts, such as the tropical north, the Great Dividing Range, the east caost, the southern Alps or southern WA. All through the interioer of the mainland race "leuconotus" is found. Races "leucopterus" and "edouardi" are only found on small islands off the WA coast.

White-winged Fairy-wrens can usually be found in open semi-arid to arid habitats with dense, low vegetation, such as e.g. saltbush or tall grass, often along roadsides. Also found by us in introduced tall weeds, such as e.g. thistles.

Sightings

According to field guides, Narrabri is close to the edge (but visibly outside) the habitat of White-winged Fairy-wrens, which are found predominantly in the interior of the continent (west of the Great Dividing Range). However, subspecies "leuconotus" is found in the Narrabri area. We first spotted a family of them several times over the years (2004-2007) at the Australia Telescope observatory, 25 km west of Narrabri.

In August 2008 we also spotted (and photographed) a family 20 km east of Narrabri, which is another 40 km further east compared to the previous sightings, right in the foothills of the Nandewar Range. At the time we saw them together with a family of Superb Fairy-wrens.

Photos

Race "leuconotus"

Frontal view of a male in afternoon light

Near-frontal view of a male with a clear display of the reflective white wings

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren

Dorsal view; the birds use the previous year's thistles as perches

Distant dorsal view of a male, showing clearly its white wings and its ability to display its raised crest

Male White-winged Fairy-wren moulting into its breeding plumage

This angle on the same moulting male as above shows more clearly the white wing patches

Here a male bird in the final stages of losing its breeding plumage

The absence of rufous lores, as found in Superb Fairy-wrens, indicates that this male bird in eclipse seen 20 km east of Narrabri is a White-winged Fairy-wren

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren

The faintest hue of blue is visible in the tail feathers of this female White-winged Fairy-wren

Male and female White-winged Fairy-wren together on a fence

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Family clan

Although territorial, i.e. not tolerating other birds of their own species in their territory, White-winged Fairy-wrens have been seen by us regularly to share their territory with family clans of Superb Fairy-wrens.

Food

Fairy-wrens feed on small animals, such as insects.