Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens
Red-winged Fairywren
Malurus elegans
- Family
- Grasswrens, Fairywrens, and Emu-wrens (Maluridae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The red-winged fairywren (Malurus elegans) is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is non-migratory and endemic to the southwestern corner of Western Australia. Exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism, the male adopts a brilliantly coloured breeding plumage, with an iridescent silvery-blue crown, ear coverts and upper back, red shoulders, contrasting with a black throat, grey-brown tail and wings and pale underparts. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage, though males may bear isolated blue and black feathers.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Forested southwestern Western Australia.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Red-winged 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.
