Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens
Blue-breasted Fairywren
Malurus pulcherrimus
- Family
- Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens (Maluridae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The blue-breasted fairywren (Malurus pulcherrimus), or blue-breasted wren, is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is non-migratory and endemic to southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism, the male adopts a brilliantly coloured breeding plumage, with a bright blue crown, ear coverts and upper back, red shoulders, contrasting with a dark blue throat, grey-brown tail and wings and pale underparts. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Southwestern Australia (Shark Bay, west-central Australia eastward to Eyre Peninsula).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Blue-breasted fairywren
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.