White-winged Fairywren

1. Breeding males have vivid blue or black bodies with white shoulder patches.

2. Females are pale grey-brown with off-white underparts and subtle blue-grey tails.

3. All birds have fine, pointed bills and are often seen perched in the open on shrubs.

White-winged Fairy-wrens live in cooperative family groups, usually consisting of a breeding pair and several helpersoften previous offspring that assist with raising young. Only one male in each group typically shows the bright breeding plumage. Breeding can occur at any time following significant rainfall, with dome-shaped nests built low in dense shrubs. Their diet is mainly insects, but they also eat small seeds and fruits. The main threat to this species is habitat loss, especially the reduction of protective shrubs due to overgrazing.

White-winged Fairy-wrens inhabit open shrublands in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia, especially in areas with saltbush, bluebush, samphire, and spinifex. They are also found in coastal dunes with sparse vegetation and lignum thickets near wetlands. These birds are most active in the early morning, foraging in small family groups through low vegetation. Unlike some other fairy-wrens, they often perch in the open and can be seen moving quickly between shrubs. Their call is a fast, trilling sound with a wavering rhythm.

There are three recognized subspecies: the mainland form with blue males, and two island forms (Dirk Hartog and Barrow Islands) where breeding males are black. The presence of White-winged Fairy-wrens is often used as an indicator of healthy shrubland habitats in arid Australia. The indigenous name is “miril-yiril-yiri” in some regions along the northern edge of the Nullarbor.