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White-winged Fairy-wren (Malurus leucopterus) Alternate name(s): "White-backed Wren"; Race "leucopterus": "Black-and-white Wren"; Race "leuconotus": "Blue-and-white Wren" Aboriginal name(s): "miril-yiril-yiri" Collectively, the three species White-winged Fairy-wren, Splendid Fairy-wren and Variegated Fairy-wren, are called "miril-yiril-yiri" along the northern edge of the Nullarbor Size: 11-13.5 cm; wing span: ca. 15 cm Body mass: 7-11 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.12-0.22

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

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-winged Fairy-wrens are tiny birds with long tails. Like all other Australian species of fairy-wrens, their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. In addition, male White-winged Fairy-wrens have different breeding and eclipse plumages and there are differences between races. Male White-winged Fairy-wrens, nominate race "leucopterus" and also race "edouardi", are basically all-black, except for prominent, highly reflective white wing bars. The tail is deep blue-purple. Male White-winged Fairy-wrens of the mainland race "leuconotus", are all-blue (rather than black), with white reflective wing bars. The bill of males is dark-grey, the legs and feet are grey. Female White-winged Fairy-wrens have a creamy front, from the throat downward to the vent, and a light grey-brown back. The tail is faint-blue. The bill, legs and feet are the colour of skin. Males in eclipse keep their dark legs and feet, but otherwise resemble females. Juveniles resemble females, only - when very young - with shorter tail feathers.

Taxonomy, classification See White-winged Fairy-wren at Wikipedia .

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 White-winged Fairy-wren is available HERE . NB: Reports on ebird of birds submitted by birdwatchers from the Australian Outback tend to be clustered along roads and public areas such as camp grounds; in such cases their distribution is not a good representation of the overall distribution of the species. White-winged Fairy-wrens are endemic to Australia. They are found only in the semi-arid and the most arid parts of the Australian continent. They are not found in the forested parts, such as the tropical North, the Great Dividing Range, the East coast, the southern Alps or southern WA. All through the interior of the mainland, race "leuconotus" is found. Race "leucopterus" is found only on Dirk Hartog Island (to the South-West of Carnarvon, WA), and race "edouardi" on Barrow Island, which is one of the Mackerel Islands, off the North West Cape of WA. White-winged Fairy-wrens can usually be found in open semi-arid to arid habitats with dense, low vegetation, such as e.g. saltbush or tall grass, often along roadsides. They were also found by us in introduced tall weeds, such as e.g. thistles.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "leuconotus" According to field guides, Narrabri, NSW, is close to the edge (but visibly outside) the range of White-winged Fairy-wrens. However, race "leuconotus" is found in the Narrabri area, where they were first spotted by us several times in the years from 2004 to 2007, 20 km West of town, towards Wee Waa, NSW. In August 2008 we also spotted (and photographed) a family at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, which is another 40 km further eastward compared to the previous sightings, right in the foothills of the Nandewar Range. At the time we saw them together with a family of Superb Fairy-wrens. White-winged Fairy-wrens can be found reliably at Eulah Creek all year round. Subsequently, White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", were seen in large numbers in briarbush-dominated country (i.e., dense, thorny shrubs along various water courses about 10 km North-West of Moree, NSW. The contributions to these observations by C. Hayne and A. Lines are most gratefully acknowledged. C. Hayne reports that they are commonly found in the Moree area. Many White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", were also found in roadside vegetation between Burren Juction and Walgett, NSW, in June 2012. In the years since we have found the species to be common in the plains of inland NSW, e.g. westward of Narrabri and Moree. M. Mearns reports spotting White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at Currawinya NP, southern inland QLD, in October 2012, and in various locations in central western QLD in September 2019. J. Greaves reports spotting White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016, and at Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, in December 2016. M. Eaton reports finding White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at Coolmunda, near Inglewood, QLD, during several visits. R. Plumtreespotted White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", 20 km north of Hawker, SA, in September 2018, and near Kelly Road cemetery, Linga, on the Mallee Highway, VIC, in November 2018. A. Allnutt found White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at Lake Cargelligo, NSW, in January 2019. Both M. Eaton and ourselves found White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at the Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, in June 2019. M. Eaton also reports finding White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", regularly across large parts of inland QLD. M. Eaton spotted White-winged Fairy-wrens, race "leuconotus", at the Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, in June 2022.

Photos

Race "leuconotus"

ADULT

PAIR

(Near-)frontal view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Winton, QLD, August 2022]

Near-frontal/near-lateral view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens, with the male in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens, with the male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of part of a family clan of White-winged Fairy-wrens, with the male in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens, with the male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]

Frontal view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens, with a male in non-breeding plumage on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Hawker, SA, September 2018]

Frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with its prey, a spider for its brood (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Winton, QLD, August 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage; note the conspicuous white wing patch
(photo courtesy of B. Kinross)

Near-frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with its prey, a spider for its brood (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, November 2024]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Coolmunda, near Inglewood, QLD, November 2024]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with a clear display of the reflective white wings in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Partly obscured near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Coolmunda, near Inglewood, QLD, November 2024]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, November 2024]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with a clear display of the reflective white wings in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage showing its ability to raise its little crest
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Dorsal/ventral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Beltana, SA, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren moulting into its breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with a clearer view of the fading white wing patches
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage, with a few emerging blue feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-frontal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

Near-lateral view of a non-breeding male White-winged Fairy-wren that was observed by us helping to feed the dependent young of a breeding couple
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of 3 male White-winged Fairy-wrens in non-breeding plumage in a prickly shrub
[Pilliga, NSW, June 2016]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren looking sideways (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Near-frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren; note the pale bill (and the extreme length of this individual's tail)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]

Near-frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren
[Near Moree, NSW, April 2012]

Frontal/lateral view of two female White-winged Fairy-wrens (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whyalla Conservation Park, Whyalla, SA, June 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, February 2024]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren in a casuarina
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2016]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, QLD, October 2012]

Dorsal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren looking back at the observer
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, March 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile White-winged Fairy-wren
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, November 2024]

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile White-winged Fairy-wren
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, November 2024]

Lateral view of a fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren looking backwards
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren begging to be fed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 13 - 14 days

Fledging age: ca. 12 days

Nest building: Dominant female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Family clan

Lateral view of a pair of White-winged Fairy-wrens working on the next generation (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Winton, QLD, August 2022]

Nest

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

Type: Dome

Material: Grass, wool, rootlets, webs

Height above ground: 0.2 - 2 m

White-winged Fairy-wren nest in a relatively open setting
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2006]

Clan of White-winged Fairy-wrens (the male is not visible) that owned the nest shown above
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2006]

Look into an old, abandoned White-winged Fairy-wren nest; with the dome gone one can see that what remains is a "standard" basket/cup-style nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Eggs

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

Size: 15 x 12 mm

Colour: Light cream, sparse light-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Family clan

Apart from bonding rituals performed to strengthen the family clan as a unit, the α-male and α-female, who are the only ones in a clan who will breed, have their own bonding ritual, such as e.g. allopreening.

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wrens cuddling up to his partner in a bonding ritual (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Winton, QLD, August 2022]

Although territorial, i.e. not tolerating other birds of their own species in their territory, White-winged Fairy-wrens have been seen by us regularly to share their territory with family clans of Superb Fairy-wrens.

White-winged Fairy-wrens like to hide in prickly weeds; here a family clan keeping their eyes on two nearby Pied Butcherbirds
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, March 2018]

White-winged Fairy-wrens are curious birds, but also cautious; living preferably in open country they are usually hard to approach, unlike the two watching the birdwatcher from a shrub in this frontal view
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in an alert, upright stance (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Near-lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren in an alert, upright stance (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

This White-winged Fairy-wren is trying to read the sign, but is finding it difficult to read upside down...
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, September 2019]

Food, Diet

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

Lateral view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with its prey, a spider for its brood (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-winged Fairy-wren with its prey, a spider for its brood (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

Frontal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren devouring a horsefly (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren devouring a horsefly (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ocean Reef, Perth, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren with its prey, a spider for its brood (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]

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.

wwfairy_20170119_1.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Territorial call ("rollicking")	© MD
wwfairy_20201208.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Territorial call ("rollicking")	© MD
wwfairy_20201227.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Territorial call ("rollicking", long)	© MD
wwfairy_20170119.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Territorial calls ("rollicking")	© MD
wwfairy_20200324.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (early dawn)	© MD
wwfairy_20241229.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Warning calls (human)	© MD
wwfairy_20230216.mp3	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Various (family clan)	© MD
wwfairy_20201227_3.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Various (family clan)	© MD
wwfairy_20201227_2.m4a	leuconotus (NW NSW)	Various	© MD

More White-winged 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.