Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)
White-winged Fairy-wren (Malurus leucopterus) - HBW 12, p. 525
French: Mérion leucoptère
German: Weißflügel-Staffelschwanz
Spanish: Maluro Aliblanco
Other common names: White-winged Superb Warbler, Black-and-white Wren; Blue-and-white Wren/Fairy-wren (leuconotus); White-backed Wren/Fairy-wren (aberrant white-backed forms)
Taxonomy: Malurus leucopterus Dumont de Sainte Croix, 1824, Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia.
Protein evidence indicates that closest allies are M. melanocephalus and M. alboscapulatus; the three constitute the “bicoloured group”. DNA evidence suggests that the two black-and-white island forms, i.e. nominate race and edouardi, are not each other’s closest relative; further study required. Possible genetic variation within race leuconotus requires further investigation. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- edouardi A. J. Campbell, 1901 - Barrow I, in Western Australia.
- leucopterus Dumont de Sainte Croix, 1824 - Dirk Hartog I, in Western Australia.
- leuconotus Gould, 1865 - coast of Western Australia E across most of mainland (except N) to C & S Queensland, EC New South Wales and NW Victoria.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A male and several females in saltbushes Locality Stuart Highway, South Australia, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Geoffrey Dabb 31 August 2005 6 years ago 14 sec 4.6 -
A male in a saltbush and on the ground. Locality Stuart Highway, South Australia, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Geoffrey Dabb 31 August 2005 6 years ago 17 sec 4.6 -
Feeding - Eating Meal-worms from my hand, eating Crickets from an aquarium. Locality New South Wales, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
John Quatro 19 December 2009 2 years ago 1 min 3 sec 4.3 -
A male in saltbushes Locality Stuart Highway, South Australia, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Geoffrey Dabb 31 August 2005 6 years ago 22 sec 4.3 -
Birds preening on a branch Locality New South Wales, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
John Quatro 19 December 2009 2 years ago 1 min 12 sec 4 -
A pair perched on a bush, female is preening. Locality Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Josep del Hoyo 27 October 2009 2 years ago 36 sec 3.7
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Male
Locality Turlee Station, New South Wales, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Geoffrey Dabb 26 August 2010 1 year ago 4.5 -
female perched in saltbush
Locality Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Mat Gilfedder 14 October 2007 3 years ago 3.5 -
male and female in bush; distant
Locality Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia (ssp leuconotus)
Michael Retter 30 October 2009 3 years ago 1
- No sound recordings available yet
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