It’s always exciting when I see a bird species for the first time. And the lovely White-winged Fairy-wren is no exception:

There are several species of Fairy-wren in Australia: my bird book lists nine. In the area where I live, we most often see Variegated Fairy-wrens. Not too far away are Superb Fairy-wrens. But White-winged Fairy-wrens are found further west, in the interior of the continent.

I spotted this one on the edge of the road in the Living Desert State Park, outside Broken Hill. Its bright blue caught my eye, and when I got the photos home I could see the white wings that give it its name.

Common name: White-winged Fairy-wren
Scientific name: Malurus leucopterus
Approximate length: 12-13 cm
Date spotted: 21 July 2026 (winter)
Location: Living Desert State Park near Broken Hill, NSW, Australia: 31°54’03.2″S 141°26’23.1″E