Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Red-winged Fairywren (Malurus elegans), male
Red-winged Fairywren, Male

Red-winged Fairywren

Malurus elegans

The Red-winged Fairywren (Malurus elegans) is a passerine bird, a member of the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is the largest of the fairywrens, measuring 15 cm in length and weighing between 8-11 grams. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, the male in breeding plumage is a striking mix of iridescent silvery-blue and red-brown with a black throat, while non-breeding males, females, and juveniles display a more subdued grey-brown plumage.

Identification Tips

Males in breeding plumage can be identified by their silvery-blue crown, ear coverts, and upper back, with a contrasting black throat and nape, and bright red-brown shoulders. Their long grey-brown tail and wings, and a greyish-white belly complete the ensemble. Females and non-breeding males are predominantly grey-brown, though males may retain some blue and black feathers. A black bill and lores are characteristic of males, while females have a black bill, rufous lores, and a pale grey eye-ring.

Habitat

The Red-winged Fairywren favors the shelter of scrubby vegetation in temperate wetter forests dominated by karri trees. It prefers wetter gullies and riverside sword sedge within these forests.

Distribution

This species is non-migratory and endemic to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, from Moore River north of Perth south through to the Margaret River region and east to Albany.

Behaviour

The Red-winged Fairywren is a cooperative breeder, with groups consisting of a socially monogamous pair and several helper birds. They maintain and defend small territories year-round. Males engage in a unique courtship display involving the presentation of yellow petals to females.

Song & Calls

The Red-winged Fairywren communicates with a variety of vocalizations, including a high-pitched reel for territory disputes and soft, repeating tones for maintaining contact. Alarm calls are sharp and loud.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from October to December. Nests are built by the female, often in thick vegetation, and are dome-shaped structures made of grass and spider webs. Clutches usually consist of two or three eggs, with the female solely responsible for incubation.

Similar Species

The Red-winged Fairywren is similar in appearance to the Variegated Fairywren and the Blue-breasted Fairywren but is considered a separate species due to the absence of intermediate forms where their ranges overlap.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily insectivorous, the Red-winged Fairywren forages in bracken and low shrubs, as well as leaf-litter on the ground. It consumes a wide range of small creatures, mostly insects such as ants, beetles, spiders, bugs, and caterpillars.

Conservation Status

The Red-winged Fairywren is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, there is evidence of a decline in numbers due to habitat changes such as draining of swampland.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Red-winged Fairywrens on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Australasian Wrens

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.