Purple-crowned Fairywren

Malurus coronatus· 细尾鹩莺科(9 photos)

Photographed In:

2026 2025

Locations:

Species Profile

IOC World Bird List

14-15.5 cm. Male: crown deep lilac with black centre; broad black mask extends around nape; tail blue; underparts cream, washed buff. Male, eclipse: head grey; eye-patch blackish. Female: crown blue-grey; fine white eyebrow and eye-ring; chestnut eye-patch; blue tail. Immature: like female; no white around eye. Pairs, family parties: often high in trees.

Other name: Lilac-crowned Wren.
Voice: loud, low-pitched reeling, with elements of scrubwren; high-pitched 'cheepa-cheepa-cheepa'; contact-call short 'drrt' or 'jk' note like Fairy Martin; deep scolds.
Habitat: pandanus/paperbark thickets, with tall cane-grass and other dense low cover, mostly fringing rivers, creeks, lakes; rarely mangroves.
Breeding: Aug.-Jan.; April-May.
Nest: domed, bulky; of strips of paperbark, cane-grass; in pandanus, near water.
Eggs: 3; pink-white, with spots, splashes of brownish pink.
Range & Status: nominate race: n. and e. Kimberley (WA), from Drysdale R. e. to Victoria R. (NT); s. to upper Fitzroy, Hann and Margaret Rs. (WA); Ord R. on upper L. Argyle (WA). Race macgillivrayi: e. NT, from lower Roper, Towns, Limmen Bight, McArthur Rs. e. to Gregory-lower Leichhardt Rs. (nw. Q); s. to Mallapunyah (NT); Lawn Hill NP-Riversleigh-Kamilaroi (Q). Very local; habitat decimated by burning and stock. Sedentary.
Distribution key to races: 1. Malurus coronatus coronatus 2. Malurus coronatus macgillivrayi

Species Profile

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