Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)
Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) - HBW 12, p. 525
French: Mérion à dos rouge
German: Rotrücken-Staffelschwanz
Spanish: Maluro Dorsirrojo
Other common names: Black-headed Fairy-wren, Blood/Elfin/Orange-backed Wren, Red/Red-backed Wren, Blood-backed Wren-warbler, Scarlet-backed Warbler, Orange-backed Flycatcher
Taxonomy: Muscicapa melanocephala Latham, 1801, New Holland = near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Protein evidence indicates that closest allies are M. leucopterus and M. alboscapulatus; the three constitute the “bicoloured group”. Races intergrade in NE Queensland, where hybridization zone between R Endeavour and R Burdekin. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- cruentatus Gould, 1840 - N Western Australia (from Cape Keraudren) E, N of 20° S, to N Queensland (S to base of Cape York Peninsula and Charters Towers).
- melanocephalus (Latham, 1801) - NE Queensland (E Cape York Peninsula) S along coast to E New South Wales.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A male perched in a tree, turning around and flying away. Locality Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia (ssp melanocephalus)
Josep del Hoyo 16 October 2010 1 year ago 27 sec 4.5 -
A male perching and preening on lantana . Locality Terranora Broadwater, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp melanocephalus)
Nick Talbot 20 December 2008 3 years ago 27 sec 4.3 -
A male preening on a branch. Locality Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia (ssp melanocephalus)
Josep del Hoyo 16 October 2010 1 year ago 13 sec 4 -
A male perched on a branch, resting. Locality Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia (ssp melanocephalus)
Josep del Hoyo 16 October 2010 1 year ago 21 sec 4 -
A male flying around in a bush and joining a female at the end Locality Monduran Dam, Queensland, Australia (ssp cruentatus)
Eldert Groenewoud 23 July 2007 3 years ago 26 sec 4 -
A male finding food on the ground Locality Binna Burra, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia (ssp cruentatus)
Philip Griffin 23 December 2002 8 years ago 11 sec 4
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Male and female Red-backed Fairy-wrens singing together
Locality Oxley Creek Common Reserve, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 July 2010 1 year ago 4.7 -
A male in a tree with an insect in the beak.
Locality Northern Territory, Australia (ssp cruentatus)
Nick Athanas 12 April 2006 3 years ago 4.6 -
Male Red-backed Fairy-wren singing
Locality Oxley Creek Common Reserve, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 July 2010 1 year ago 4.5 -
A composite photo of a single male
Locality Crowdy Bay National Park, New South Wales, Australia (ssp melanocephalus)
Geoffrey Dabb 22 September 2011 15 weeks ago 4 -
This is a sub-adult male
Locality Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 January 2010 1 year ago 4 -
The gorgeous plumage on the red-backed Fairy-wren from Australia
Locality Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Taylor 1 January 2010 1 year ago 4
- No sound recordings available yet
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