Purple-backed Fairywren vs Variegated Fairywren

Purple-backed Fairywren

Malurus assimilis

Tiny8 gShrubland

The purple-backed fairywren is on average 14.5 cm (5.5 in) long. Like other fairywrens, it 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. The brightly coloured crown and ear tufts are prominently featured in breeding displays. The male in breeding plumage has striking bright blue ear coverts and blue-purple crown and forehead, a black throat and nape, a blue-purple upper back, chestnut shoulders and a bluish-grey tail. The wings are drab brown and the belly white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Max Tibby · CC0

Variegated Fairywren

Malurus lamberti

Tiny8 gShrubland

The variegated fairywren is 14–15 cm (5.5–6 in) long and weighs 6–11 g (0.21–0.39 oz). Like other fairywrens, it 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. The brightly coloured crown and ear tufts are prominently featured in breeding displays. The male in breeding plumage has striking bright blue ear coverts, with the crown often slightly darker, a black throat and nape, a royal blue upper back, chestnut shoulders and a bluish-grey tail. Voice: Vocal communication among variegated fairywrens is used primarily for communication between birds in a social group and for advertising and defending a territory. The basic song type is a high-pitched reel of a large number of short elements (10–20 per second); this lasts 1–4 seconds. The reel of the variegated fairywren is the softest of all malurids.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: James Niland from Brisbane, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purple-backed Fairywren and Variegated Fairywren.