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16

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: 12-13 cm
Weight: 7-11 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See White-winged Fairy-wren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "leuconotus"

ADULT

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]

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

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

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]

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 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]

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 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]

Male White-winged Fairy-wren moulting into its breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

This angle on the same moulting male White-winged Fairy-wren as above shows more clearly the 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 non-breeding male White-winged Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

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

Three male White-winged Fairy-wrens in non-breeding plumage
[Pilliga, NSW, June 2016]

Male White-winged Fairy-wren in the final stages of losing its breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

Non-breeding male White-winged Fairy-wren that was observed by us helping feeding the dependent young of a breeding couple
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

FEMALE

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]

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

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

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
[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]

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]

Near-dorsal view of a female White-winged Fairy-wren
[Currawinya NP, QLD, September 2012]

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

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]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile White-winged Fairy-wren
[Near Cryon, NSW, June 2012]

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

Fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren, here with its head turned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Fledgling White-winged Fairy-wren calling
[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]

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

Closer look at one member of the White-winged Fairy-wren family
[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 ritual 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 hard to approach, unlike the two shown here watching the birdwatcher from a shrub
[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_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.