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The white-shouldered fairywren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is found in New Guinea.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The 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. The tail is shorter than that of other fairywrens. The bill is black, and the feet and eyes are black or dark brown. The females of M. a. alboscapulatus and M. a. naimii bear a pied plumage, with black upperparts contrasting with white shoulders and underparts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the White-shouldered Fairywren lives
When to see the White-shouldered Fairywren
Peak activity in July · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
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).
Blue-breasted FairywrenMalurus pulcherrimusThe contact call is a soft, short reed-like trill.
Emperor FairywrenMalurus cyanocephalusIt is the largest fairywren, being 13–16 cm (5.1–6.3 in) long and weighing 12–17 g (0.42–0.60 oz).
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