Australasian WrensDusky Grasswren Purple-backed Fairywren Red-backed Fairywren Southern Emu-wren Splendid Fairy-wren Superb Fairywren Variegated Fairywren White-winged Fairywren

The family Maluridae are a group of small, insectivorous passerine birds, endemic to Australia and New Guinea, known commonly as the Australasian Wrens. There are 6 genera comprising 28 species – made up of 15 fairywrens, 3 emu-wrens, 11 grasswrens.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Mudgeeraba QLD © Dorothy Latimer
Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Mudgeeraba QLD © Dorothy Latimer

Emu-wrens

  1. Mallee Emu-wren (Stipiturus mallee)
  2. Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (Stipiturus ruficeps)
  3. Southern Emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus)
Southern Emu-wren © Dorothy L
Southern Emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus) © Dorothy L

Fairywrens

  1. Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (Malurus pulcherrimus) – southern WA, Eyre Peninsula SA
  2. Emperor Fairywren (Malurus cyanocephalus) – New Guinea
  3. Lovely Fairywren (Malurus amabilis) – north-eastern Australia
  4. Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis) – central and Western Australia
  5. Purple-crowned Fairywren (Malurus coronatus) – northern Australia
  6. Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) – Australia
  7. Red-winged Fairywren (Malurus elegans) – south-west corner of WA
  8. Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) – central and Western Australia
  9. Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) – Australia and New Guinea
  10. Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti) – Australia
  11. White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus) – New Guinea
  12. White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus) – central QLD, SA, WA

There are several additional species, that are presently or were formerly in the genus Malurus, now in other genus such as Chenorhamphus and Sipodotus1:

  • Wallace’s fairywren (as Malurus wallacei and Malurus wallacii)
  • Broad-billed fairywren (as Malurus grayi)
  • Campbell’s fairywren (as Malurus campbelli)

Grasswrens

  1. Black Grasswren (Amytornis housei)
  2. Carpentarian Grasswren (Amytornis dorotheae)
  3. Dusky grasswren (Amytornis purnelli)
  4. Eyrean Grasswren (Amytornis goyderi)
  5. Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus)
  6. Kalkadoon grasswren (Amytornis ballarae)
  7. Opalton Grasswren (Amytornis rowleyi)
  8. Rufous Grasswren (Amytornis whitei)
  9. Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi)
  10. Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus)
  11. Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus)
  12. Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis)
  13. White-throated Grasswren (Amytornis woodwardi)
Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli)
Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli)

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Superfamily: Meliphagoidea
  • Family: Maluridae
  • Genus:
    Amytornis
    Malurus
    Stipiturus


    At time of writing, there are currently 6 genera recognised2.
Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer

Footnote & References

  1. Malurus, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malurus&oldid=1008854401 (last visited Aug. 23, 2021).
  2. Australasian wren, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_wren (last visited Aug. 23, 2021).
  3. Maluridae – Australasian Wrens, Fat Birder, https://fatbirder.com/ornithology/maluridae-australasian-wrens/

Australasian WrensDusky Grasswren Purple-backed Fairywren Red-backed Fairywren Southern Emu-wren Splendid Fairy-wren Superb Fairywren Variegated Fairywren White-winged Fairywren

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