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White-winged Fairy-wrenAlternate name(s): "White-backed Wren"; Race "leucopterus": "Black-and-white Wren"; Race "leuconotus": "Blue-and-white Wren" ![]() 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 |
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Photos |
Race "leuconotus"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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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]
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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
.