Red-backed Fairywren

Malurus melanocephalus · Passerine bird in the Australasian wren family
Order
Passeriformes
Codes
rebfai1, RBFA

About the Red-backed Fairywren

The red-backed fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia and can be found near rivers and coastal areas along the northern and eastern coastlines from the Kimberley in the northwest to the Hunter Region in New South Wales. The male adopts a striking breeding plumage, with a black head, upperparts and tail, and a brightly coloured red back and brown wings. The female has brownish upperparts and paler underparts. The male in eclipse plumage and the juvenile resemble the female. Some males remain in non-breeding plumage while breeding. Two subspecies are recognised; the nominate M. m. melanocephalus of eastern Australia has a longer tail and orange back, and the short-tailed M. m. cruentatus from northern Australia has a redder back.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFairywrens (Maluridae)
SpeciesMalurus melanocephalus
Species Codesrebfai1, RBFA

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Red-backed Fairywren belong to?

The Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) belongs to the Fairywrens family (Maluridae), in the order Passeriformes.

How can I identify the Red-backed Fairywren?

The red-backed fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia and can be found near rivers and coastal areas along the northern and eastern coastlines from the Kimberley in the northwest to the Hunter Region in New South Wales. The mal...

Where can I report a Red-backed Fairywren sighting?

You can log sightings of Red-backed Fairywren on eBird (ebird.org) using species code rebfai1, or on iNaturalist.