White-winged Fairywren

Malurus leucopterus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernEndemicInvertebratesShrublandDomed nestTiny · 7 g

What the White-winged Fairywren sounds like

Sonogram of the White-winged Fairywren: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Rob Nicholson · Song · Mosquito Creek Road, Coolmunda, Goondiwindi Regional, Queensland, Australia · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the White-winged Fairywren: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Rob Nicholson · Mosquito Creek Road, Coolmunda, Goondiwindi Regional, Queensland, Australia · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Measuring 11 to 13.5 centimetres (4.3 to 5.3 in) in length, white-winged fairywrens are one of the two smallest species of Malurus. Males typically weigh between 7.2 and 10.9 grams (0.25 and 0.38 oz) while females weigh between 6.8 and 11 grams (0.24 and 0.39 oz). Averaging 8.5 mm (0.3 in) in males and 8.4 mm (0.3 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 picking insects off their environs. Voice: In 1980, Tideman characterised five different patterns of calls among Malurus leucopterus leuconotus; these were recognised by Pruett and Jones among the island subspecies M. l. edouardi. The main call is a reel made by both sexes in order to establish territory and unify the group. It is a long song of "rising and falling notes" that is first signaled by 3–5 chip notes.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the White-winged Fairywren

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.

Where to see the White-winged Fairywren

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the White-winged Fairywren

The white-winged fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It lives in the drier parts of Central Australia; from central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia. Like other fairywrens, this species displays marked sexual dimorphism and one or more males of a social group grow brightly coloured plumage during the breeding season. The female is sandy-brown with light-blue tail feathers; it is smaller than the male, which, in breeding plumage, has a bright-blue body, black bill, and white wings. Younger sexually mature males are almost indistinguishable from females and are often the breeding males.

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

Easily confused with

Side by side: Splendid Fairywren vs White-winged Fairywren · Purple-backed Fairywren vs White-winged Fairywren · Red-winged Fairywren vs White-winged Fairywren

Learn the White-winged Fairywren in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.