Red-winged Fairywren

1. Breeding males have a silvery-blue cap, ear-tufts, and back patch (not dark violet-blue).

2. Females show warm rufous-brown scapulars contrasting with a grey head and neck.

3. All birds have black bills; females of similar species may have red-brown bills.

Red-winged Fairy-wrens are cooperative breeders, living in family groups year-round. Over 8% of breeding pairs are assisted by helpers, usually offspring from previous seasons. Breeding mainly occurs from October to December, with females building dome-shaped nests in dense low vegetation. Their diet is primarily insectivorous, focusing on ants and beetles found in leaf litter and low shrubs. The species is sensitive to habitat loss from forest clearing and intense fires, which can remove the dense understory they rely on for nesting and shelter

Red-winged Fairy-wrens are found in the tall wet forests of southwestern Western Australia, especially in karri, jarrah, and marri forests with dense understory. They prefer moist areas such as densely vegetated gullies, stream edges, and swamps with thick vegetation like tea-trees, sedges, and bracken. They are most active at dawn, foraging in small family groups through dense undergrowth. Their song features long introductory whistles followed by a trilling reel. Look for their quick movements close to the ground, often with tails held upright