Red-winged Fairywren Malurus elegans Scientific name definitions

14–15·5 cm; 8·5–11·5 g. Male in Bright plumage has crown , upper back and ear-coverts iridescent sky-blue, narrow blue ring around eye; lores, nape and lower back black; scapulars distinctive, bright rufous; upperwing deep grey-brown, tail dusky blue with narrow white tip; throat and breast navy-blue, belly greyish-white; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey-brown. Female is grey-brown above, scapulars suffused with rufous, lores deep rufous, eyering pale grey, tail as male; chin and breast white, belly grey-buff; bare parts as male, including black bill. Male in Dull plumage is as female but retains black lores, and often traces of blue in plumage. Immature resembles female; male shows black in lores from 6 weeks of age.

Insects, especially ants (Formicidae) and beetles (Coleoptera); also some spiders (Araneae). Lives in groups of 2–9 individuals, which forage on or near the ground . Techniques include hop-search and pounce in litter and dead brush; also gleans in low shrubs, bracken (Pteridium) and understorey trees. Weak flier.