- Malurus leucopterus
Identification
11-13.5cm.
Male in breeding plumage - bright-blue body, black bill, and white wings.
Female - sandy-brown, light-blue tail feathers, smaller than the male.
Younger sexually mature males are almost indistinguishable from females.
Distribution
Drier parts of central Australia, from central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia.
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.
Habitat
Heathland and arid scrubland, where low shrubs provide cover.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects, small fruits and leaf buds.
It is a cooperative breeding species
