Purple-backed Fairywren
Photo: Christopher Watson (http://www.comebirdwatching.blogspot.com/) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens

Purple-backed Fairywren

Malurus assimilis

LCLeast Concern Endemic to Australia
Family
Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens (Maluridae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The purple-backed fairywren (Malurus assimilis) is a fairywren that is native to Australia. Described by Alfred John North in 1901, it has four recognised subspecies. In a species that exhibits sexual dimorphism, the brightly coloured breeding male has chestnut shoulders and azure crown and ear coverts, while non-breeding males, females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage, although females of two subspecies have mainly blue-grey plumage. Distributed over much of the Australian continent, the purple-backed fairywren is found in scrubland with plenty of vegetation providing dense cover.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Continents

Countries

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.