Purple-backed Fairywren

Overview

The purple-backed fairywren (Malurus assimilis) is a small bird native to Australia, classified as a fairywren rather than a true wren. Described in 1901, it is one of five similar species known collectively as chestnut-shouldered fairywrens and currently holds a Least Concern status on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Breeding males display brilliant iridescent blue and chestnut plumage with a black throat and nape, while non-breeding males and females are predominantly grey-brown or blue-grey.
• The species is small, averaging 14.5 cm in length, and features a black bill in males and a red-brown bill in females of certain subspecies.
• Females of subspecies assimilis and rogersi possess bright rufous lores, whereas dulcis females have white lores and eye rings.
• The blue plumage of breeding males reflects ultraviolet light strongly, making it highly prominent to other birds with UV-sensitive vision.

Habitat

Widely distributed across much of the Australian continent, this species inhabits scrubland with dense vegetation cover, preferring rocky outcrops and patches of Acacia, Eremophila or lignum. In the Northern Territory, it favours open woodland dominated by thickets of lancewood and bullwaddy, while in other regions it is found in chenopod scrubland with grass tussocks and overstory plants like black box.

Did you know?

The blue plumage of breeding males is highly iridescent due to the flattened and twisted surface of the feather barbules, a structural colour that also reflects ultraviolet light strongly for better visibility to other fairywrens.