Red-winged Fairywren vs Splendid Fairywren

Red-winged Fairywren

Malurus elegans

Tiny10 gForest

The red-winged fairywren is 15 cm (6 in) long and weighs 8–11 g (0.28–0.39 oz), making it the largest of the fairywrens. The average tail length is 7.5 cm (3.0 in), among the longest in the genus. Averaging 10 mm (0.4 in) in males and 9.3 mm (0.4 in) in females, the bill is relatively long, narrow and pointed, and wider at the base. Wider than it is deep, the bill is similar in shape to those of other birds that feed by probing for or by picking insects off of their environs. Voice: Vocal communication among red-winged fairywrens is used primarily for communication between birds in a social group and for advertising and defending a territory. They are able to distinguish different individuals on the basis of song alone, which is integral to the identification of group members and strangers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cas Liber · Public domain

Splendid Fairywren

Malurus splendens

Tiny9 gShrubland

The splendid fairywren is a small, long-tailed bird 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism, the breeding male is distinctive with a bright blue forehead and ear coverts, a violet throat, and deeper rich blue back wings, chest, and tail with a black bill, eye band, and chest band. The blue breeding plumage of the male is often referred to as nuptial plumage. The non-breeding male is brown with blue in the wings and a bluish tail. The female resembles the non-breeding male but has a chestnut bill and eye-patch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Julia Gross · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-winged Fairywren and Splendid Fairywren.