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Red-backed Fairy-wren (male)

Malurus melanocephalus cruentatus

Description:

The Red-backed Fairy-wren is the smallest of Australia’s fairy-wrens.This subspecies is the smallest. This is a scruffy looking male in transition to eclipse plumage or non-breeding plumage. Like most other fairy-wrens, when in non-breeding plumage they are brown above and off white below. Usually, males are glossy black with a striking red patch on the back and rump. The subspecies M. m. cruentatus have a brighter crimson patch and a shorter tail.

Habitat:

Hanging about at the waste water wetlands.

Notes:

Please check out this little video of this beautiful, scruffy little Fairy-wren: https://youtu.be/1tRaMowy-8I I caught this little guy as he was in the middle of calling (see pic 1). These little birds are endemic to Australia. Further reference: The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds, Mobile App.

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10 Comments

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

Thanks heaps Antonio!!! And you're very welcome :) Liana

Great capture Armadeus 4,congrats on the very well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

Thank you for choosing this little guy as SOTD!!! I love having a forum with which to share as much about the Kimberley region as possible!!!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 7 years ago

Congratulations Liana! This little guy is our Spotting of the Day! Thanks for your ongoing efforts in documenting the wildlife of the Kimberleys and for your excellent notes.

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armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

So true! When I saw this little guy from a distance, there was a male in full plumage as well. I had wondered (hoped) that I might have been witnessing a turf war between a Red-backed Fairy-wren and a Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti rogersi) as can both be found around these waste water wetlands. However, after some photos I realised it was a male in transition :D

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 7 years ago

that's what i found fascinating about birding,the alternate plumages thru the year.sometimes one can fail to recognize the bird!

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

Cheers again Hema! So scruffy ha ha

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 7 years ago

too cute!

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

He is very cute! Cheers Felix!

Felix Fleck
Felix Fleck 7 years ago

Beauty!

armadeus.4
Spotted by
armadeus.4

Western Australia, Australia

Spotted on Oct 15, 2016
Submitted on Oct 15, 2016

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