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Purple-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus assimilis) Alternate name(s): "Purple-backed Wren" Aboriginal name(s): "miril-yiril-yiri" Collectively, the three species White-winged Fairy-wren, Splendid Fairy-wren and Purple-backed Fairy-wren, are called "miril-yiril-yiri" along the northern edge of the Nullarbor Size: 13-14 cm; wing span: 13-16 cm Body mass: 6-11 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.13-0.16

Australia: Family Group 16 Family Group 16 Table Purple-crowned Fairy-wren White-winged Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren Variegated Fairy-wren Purple-backed Fairy-wren Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Lovely Fairy-wren Red-winged Fairy-wren Red-backed Fairy-wren Southern Emu-wren Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Carpentarian Grasswren Eyrean Grasswren Striated Grasswren Thick-billed Grasswren Western Grasswren Dusky Grasswren Kalkadoon Grasswren Grey Grasswren Black Grasswren Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Purple-backed Fairy-wrens are tiny birds with long tails. Like all other Australian fairy-wren species, their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. In addition, malesbreeding and eclipse plumages. Male Purple-backed Fairy-wrens in breeding plumage have black lores, throats and breasts, off-white bellies and vents, blue eye rings, ear coverts and caps, with reddish-brown wing coverts and dark-brown flight feathers. The tail is dark-blue. The bill is black, the legs and feet are greyish-pink. Female Purple-backed Fairy-wrens have an off-white front, with a light greyish-brown head, greyish-brown wings and blue tail. The lores are dark-brown, the bill is orange-brown and the legs and feet are the colour of skin. Male Purple-backed Fairy-wrens in eclipse have black lores. They keep their dark bill and greyish-pink legs and feet, but otherwise they resemble females. Juveniles resemble females, only - when very young - with shorter tail feathers. Twitcher's tip White edge-lining of the tail feathers is characteristic of Purple-backed Fairy-wrens - note that many field guides do not mention this distinguishing feature! Compared to Red-winged Fairy-wrens, male Purple-backed Fairy-wrens in breeding plumage have somewhat darker hues of blue on their head and back. For direct comparisons between Purple-backed Fairy-wrens and Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens see comparative photos below.

Taxonomy, classification See Purple-backed Fairy-wren at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Purple-backed Fairy-wrens have now been given species status and are no longer considered to be a race of the Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti).

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Purple-backed Fairy-wren is available HERE . Purple-backed Fairy-wrens are endemic to Australia. They are found almost everywhere on the Australian continent, with the following exceptions: Cape York peninsula, the south-eastern Australian coastal fringe, the Great Dividing Range South of the Hunter River in NSW, the southern Alps, a small area around Adelaide and Eyre peninsula in SA and the southern coastal fringe of WA, up to the Nullarbor on the border with SA. They are also absent from the area of Litchfield NP in the NT. Their status in Arnhemland is not well-established. Race "dulcis" populates part of the Top End of the NT, while race "rogersi" exists only in the Kimberley in WA. Race "bernieri" is found only on Bernier Island off the coast near Carnarvon, WA. Throughout the rest of the range (which is almost the entire continent, except the south-eastern coastal fringe and parts of the Great Dividing Range), nominate race "assimilis" is found. Purple-backed Fairy-wrens can usually be found in the undergrowth of various types of forest and in heath.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "assimilis" Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", are spotted by us regularly in the area 30-40 km East of Narrabri, NSW, e.g. in Deriah Aboriginal Area and in Mt. Kaputar NP. In November 2010 a family of Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", was spotted by us in a park along Narrabri Creek in the township of Narrabri. V. Collins reports finding the species at the same location in September/October 2020. Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", were also seen by us also in roadside vegetation at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, in April 2012. C. Hayne reports seeing Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", regularly in various wetlands in and around Moree, NSW, e.g. at Whittaker's Lagoon. In October 2016 we spotted Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", at Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, and in May 2018 between Burren Junction and Pilliga, NSW. We find them semi-regularly at both the Burren Junction Bore Bath and the Pilliga Wetlands Walk. J. Greaves reports spotting Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", in Merredin, WA, on the southern edge of their range in inland WA. R. Plumtree spotted Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", near Kyogle, NSW, in August 2013. A. Campbell reports finding Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", regularly at Mount McEuen, QLD. M. Mearns found Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", at Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, in September 2019. M. Eaton reports Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", at Opalton, QLD, in June 2021. C. Pears reports spotting a Purple-backed Fairy-wren, race "assimilis", at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, in September 2022. Race "dulcis" P. Brown reports finding Purple-backed Fairy-wrens, race "dulcis", along the Barkly Highway, NT, in September 2021.

Photos

Race "assimilis"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Full-frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Close-up frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage, with its tail hanging at "2 o'clock"
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, February 2025]

Two male Purple-backed Fairy-wrens in breeding plumage, conveniently aligned such that one is seen from the front, the other sideways
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2008]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking towards the observer
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, February 2025]

Near-frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]

Near-frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, September 2017]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, February 2025]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, December 2020]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, December 2020]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage together with two females
[Narrabri, NSW, November 2010]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Direct comparison of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren, right, and a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, both in breeding plumage; note how the bib of the male Purple-backed Fairy-wren is all-black, whereas that of the male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren is deep-blue, with a black lower margin (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP and Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking away from the observer
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking backwards (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a moulting male Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2017]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren starting to moult into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren starting to moult into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[The Drip Gorge, Goulburn NP, NSW, April 2016]

Frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[The Drip Gorge, Goulburn NP, NSW, April 2016]

Two distant lateral views of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage, with the characteristic white lining of its tail feathers prominently visible from in front and behind
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, July 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[The Drip Gorge, Goulburn NP, NSW, April 2016]

Dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[The Drip Gorge, Goulburn NP, NSW, April 2016]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Frontal view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2011]

Close-up near-frontal view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren looking sideways
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, October 2024]

Close-up near-frontal view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren looking sideways
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Near-lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2011]

Near-lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Gorge, SA, November 2018]

Lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren looking backwards
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Direct comparison of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren, right, and a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren; since female Purple-backed Fairy-wrens have a lighter bill, there is more colour contrast with the lores than in female Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP and Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2011]

Lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren looking for prey in a eucalypt tree
[Pilliga, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2011]

Lateral view of a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren taking a bath
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, February 2009]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a fledgling Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]

Dorsal view of a fledgling Purple-backed Fairy-wren
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]

Race "dulcis"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-dorsal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Barkly Highway, NT, September 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 14 - 16 days

Fledging age: 10 - 12 days

Purple-backed Fairy-wrens have a particularly short fledging period for their chicks, compared to the incubation period. This leads to the effect shown below.

Frontal view of a fledging Purple-backed Fairy-wren - it and its siblings could hardly fly; from the front "the job looks almost complete"
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Dorsal view of a Purple-backed Fairy-wren fledgling; from behind the story is quite different - in 10-12 days there just is not enough time to grow long tail feathers...
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Family clan

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Dome

Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs

Height above ground: 0.1 - 0.4 m

Female Purple-backed Fairy-wren "harvesting" spider webs for binding its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2021]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 17 x 13 mm

Colour: Creamy, with light-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Family clan

Although territorial, we have seen Purple-backed Fairy-wrens share their territories with Superb Fairy-wrens, even during the breeding season.

Like other Fairy-wrens, male Purple-backed Fairy-wrens have distinctly different breeding and eclipse plumages.

The plumage of this male Purple-backed Fairy-wren shows clear signs of wear late in spring, e.g. on the cap, where the blue sheen has been lost (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, November 2016]

Near-frontal view of a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren just out of the bathtub (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, November 2016]

Apart from undergrowth in woodland, Purple-backed Fairy-wrens can often be found in dense vegetation along rivers and lakes
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, May 2020]

Food, Diet

Fairy-wrens feed on small animals, such as insects.

Dad Purple-backed Fairy-wren bringing food for his chicks
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

The plumage Male Purple-backed Fairy-wren going for a drink or a bath (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, November 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

pubwren_20141023.mp3	assimilis (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
pubwren_20231203_2.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	Territorial call(?)	© MD
pubwren_20231203_3.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	Territorial call(?) (+ Sacred Kingfisher)	© MD
pubwren_20140127.mp3	assimilis (NW NSW)	Warning call (female)	© MD
pubwren_20151010.mp3	assimilis (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (clan; near nest?)	© MD
pubwren_20151010_2.mp3	assimilis (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (clan; near nest?)	© MD
pubwren_20200114_2.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	Various (clan)	© MD
pubwren_me_20221025.mp3	assimilis (NW NSW)	Various (clan)	© ME
pubwren_20200114.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	Curious/investigating	© MD
pubwren_20200114_3.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	Curious/investigating	© MD
pubwren_20231203.m4a	assimilis (NW NSW)	?	© MD

More Purple-backed Fairy-wren sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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