Blue-breasted Fairywren

About the Blue-breasted Fairywren

The blue-breasted fairywren, or blue-breasted wren, is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is non-migratory and endemic to southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism, the male adopts a brilliantly coloured breeding plumage, with a bright blue crown, ear coverts and upper back, red shoulders, contrasting with a dark blue throat, grey-brown tail and wings and pale underparts. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage. No separate subspecies are recognised.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Blue-breasted Fairywren lives

When to see the Blue-breasted Fairywren

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

White-shouldered FairywrenMalurus alboscapulatusThe adult male is all shiny black except for their white shoulders (scapulars), but unlike the better-known Australian fairywrens there is no eclipse male plumage. Purple-crowned FairywrenMalurus coronatusThe purple-crowned fairywren is a small, sexually dimorphic, bird measuring approximately 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, with a wing-span of approximately 16 cm (6.3 in) and weighing only 9–13 g (0.32–0.46 oz). Lovely FairywrenMalurus amabilisLike other fairywrens, the lovely fairywren is notable for its marked sexual dimorphism, males adopting a highly visible breeding plumage of brilliant iridescent blue and chestnut contrasting with black and grey-brown.