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White-winged Fairy-wrenAlternative name: "White-backed Wren" |
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 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.
A characteristic of all Fairy-wrens is that during their breeding season the males have much more colourful plumages than the females. While lower-ranked males molt back into inconspicuous plumages during the winter season, the α-male retains its colourful breeding plumage all year round (see photos).
Photos
Male and female White-winged Fairy-wren (leuconotus) together on a fence
Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren (leuconotus)
Frontal view, probably of the same bird, now in afternoon light
View from behind; the photos make it clear that these White-winged Fairy-wrens use last year's thistles as perches
Distant view of a male from behind, showing clearly its white wings and its ability to display its raised crest
Male White-winged Fairy-wren molting into its breeding plumage (click on image for larger version)
This angle on the same molting male as above shows more clearly the white wing patches
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