The male breeding Variegated Fairy-Wren, seen in the scrub surrounding Copley, is distinguished by a black breast, purple-tinged mantle, and ear tufts that are always lighter in colour than the cap. The non breeding male is a similar colour to female with a black bill.
Continue reading “Variegated Fairy-Wren: Copley”
The White-winged Fairy-wren (Malurus leucopterus) breeding male is cobalt blue with bright white wings. The call is a distinct circling trill which is the best indication of where these discrete birds may be sighted.
Juveniles and females are pale brown, light breasted, tails with a tint of blue. They do not have the distinctive eye markings of the Variegated Fairy-wrens with whom they share shrubby habitat on the Copley commons.
