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Purple-backed Fairy-wren (female)
Malurus lamberti rogersi
-17.4342, 123.723
Field Notes
Description:
These are females. This wee bird has a light gray crown that extends down over its back. It has a white chin and throat following into a white body. Around (I think) blue eyes is a dark patch, either black or dark brown. In 2018, the Purple-backed Fairy-wren was finally declared a new species, after being incorrectly labelled a Variegated Fairy-wren prior to the new discovery (they look very similar). You can read about the news here: https://ebird.org/australia/news/2018-ebird-annual-taxonomy-update-aust… "Females and juveniles have predominantly grey-brown plumage, although females of two subspecies have mainly blue-grey plumage." (Wiki)
Habitat:
Sitting, preening on this log at the Mankajarra Wetlands.
Notes:
There are four sub-species of which M. a. rogersi which is located in the Kimberley region and North-Western Australia. I spotted them flitting through the grass calling out to each other before they perched on this stick for some preening.
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