White-winged Fairy-wren

Malurus leucopterus leucopterus has greater than 80% of its range within Durack

The White-winged Fairy-wren has a length of 11 to 12 cm and a mass of 5.2 to 8.3 g. The adult female is greyish-brown above, and white below, with a dull greyish-blue tail, brown irides, a light-brown to pinkish-brown or reddish-horn bill, and brown legs and feet. The adult male is similar to the adult female in the non-breeding season, except in having a blackish bill and slightly brighter blue tail, but differs markedly in the breeding season. The adult male, in breeding plumage, is glossy black except for the large patch of white that extends from the shoulder down each wing, the otherwise grey or grey-brown wings that have some blue or white trim on some feathers, the blue to blackish-blue tail, and the greyish-brown to blackish-grey legs and feet. Immature birds are similar to the adult female, but some immature males up to three years of age can have a mottled black, white and brown plumage with a dull blue tail and brownish bill. Juvenile birds of either sex are also similar to the adult female, but have a shorter tail and a swollen gape. The White-winged Fairy-wren occurs in pairs or, more commonly, in small parties that can consist of more than 10 birds.¹

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