Animalia Life
Malurus coronatus
TAXONOMY
Malurus coronatus Gould, 1858, Victoria River, Northern
Territory, Australia. Two subspecies..
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Lilac-crowned wren; French: Mйrion couronnй German:
Purpurkopf-Staffelschwanz; Spanish: Ratona Australiana
de Corona Morada.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.9 in (15 cm); female 0.31–0.44 oz (8.7–12.6 g), male
0.32–0.46 oz (9.2–13 g). Male in breeding plumage distinctive
with purple crown bordered in black; female mostly buffy with
chestnut face patch; nonbreeding males resemble females but
have a dark face patch.
DISTRIBUTION
Restricted tropical range. M. c. coronatus found in northeastern
Australia; M. c. macgillivrayi found in northwestern Australia.
HABITAT
Always close to rivers, streams, or permanent pools in thick
vegetation, particularly pandanus leaves and litter.
BEHAVIOR
Territorial and monogamous; pairs advertise territory and reinforce
pair-bond with dueting. Voice a high-pitched sequence of
notes, as well as alarm and contact calls.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Glean mainly insects from dense vegetation along rivers or
pond margins, and forage in leaf litter for worms and other invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous and probably promiscuous. Maintain territory
throughout year. Nest is domed and bulky. Clutch is two or
three spotted, white eggs. Female incubates for about 14 days;
fledging in about 10 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened but adversely affected by frequent fires and
HABITAT
loss.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Purple-crowned fairy-wren
