On a dreary winter’s day, the sight of a diminutive bird donning a vibrant purple crown brings much delight and joy.
Encounter the Purple-crowned fairywren
The Purple-crowned fairywren (Malurus coronatus) is a member of the Australasian Maluridae wren family, characterized by its distinct purple crown, black eye line, and collar on the male during the breeding season. Its unique features also include cheek patches and a deep blue tail. While predominantly brown in plumage, the wings display a more greyish brown hue, and the belly showcases a buff cream coloration.
The Purple-crowned fairywren exhibits a black bill and brownish-grey legs and feet.
The females of the Purple-crowned fairywren closely resemble the males, with the exception of lacking the distinctive purple crown. Instead of the black eye line, they have a rusty cheek patch.
The habitat of the Purple-crowned fairywren includes the wet-dry tropical regions of northern Australia, specifically the Kimberley region in Western Australia, the Victoria River region in the Northern Territory, and extending to the south-western sub-coastal area of the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland.
These birds are known as riparian habitat specialists that love patches of dense river-fringing vegetation in Northern Australia. Loving well-developed mid-story foliage, composed mostly of dense shrubs alongside permanent freshwater creeks and rivers, as seen in the Kimberley region. As well as tall, dense river grass of the Victoria River District.
Mainly insectivorous, Purple-crowned fairywren dine on small invertebrates like beetles, ants, bugs, wasps, grasshoppers, moths, larvae, spiders, and worms, as well as quantities of seeds.
Breeding can occur at any time of the year as long as conditions are suitable. Most nests appear to be built close to the ground in thickets of river grass by the female. Dome-shaped, the nest consists of fine rootlets, grass, leaves, and strips of bark. A clutch of 2-3 eggs is laid over successive days, incubated by the female for 14 days. After hatching, the chicks are fully fledged in around 10 days. However, they are unable to fly and stay in dense cover for a week being fed by family members.
The Purple-crowned fairywren itself is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, two recognized subspecies are receiving national conservation management listings. The western subspecies have gone from Vulnerable, to endangered. The eastern subspecies meet the criteria for Near Threatened. Loss of habitat is the main threat to this species due to dam building and the introduction of sheep and cattle.
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