From Opus

Photo by MountainMan
Photo taken: Simpson's Gap, Alice Springs, NT, Australia.

Malurus leucopterus

[edit] Identification

11-13.5cm.

Female - sandy-brown, light-blue tail feathers, smaller than the male.

Male in breeding plumage - bright-blue body, black bill, and white wings.

Younger sexually mature males are almost indistinguishable from females.

[edit] Distribution

Drier parts of central Australia, from central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognised. Males from these islands have black rather than blue breeding plumage.

• M. l. leuconotus - mainland Australia.

• M. l. leucopterus - Dirk Hartog Island.

• M. l. edouardi - Barrow Island.

[edit] Habitat

Heathland and arid scrubland, where low shrubs provide cover.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes insects, small fruits and leaf buds.

It is a cooperative breeding species

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID