Purple-backed Fairy-wren (female)

Description:

In 2018, the purple-backed fairy-wren was finally declared a new species, after being incorrectly labelled a variegated fairy-wren prior to the new discovery (they look very similar). You can read about the news https://ebird.org/australia/news/2018-eb... "Formerly considered as a separate species and also as the same taxon as the lavender-flanked fairywren. Though the males are similar to the widely occurring inland subspecies assimilis, the females are predominantly blue-grey rather than grey-brown. It also has a longer bill and shorter tail than subspecies assimilis. It is found in the Kimberleys in north-western Australia. A broad hybrid zone with females of both subspecies has been recorded from northeastern Western Australia and the northwestern Northern Territory." (Wiki)

Habitat:

Cruising around amongst the trees, shrubs and scrub at the Waste Water Wetlands.

Notes:

There are four sub-species of which M. a. rogersi which is located in the Kimberley region and North-Western Australia. I have been waiting for years to get a decent shot of the female! There was a couple of females that I saw along with one male.