We stopped to have a cuppa overlooking the Victoria River near Timber Creek and this wren appeared. Red-winged Fairywrens were nearby but this wren was on its own.
I think it is coated with dust giving it an odd colour. The tail is quite long and I think rather tatty rather than filamental. The bill is also quite large and pinkish. Could it be a female Red-backed Fairywren or am I on the wrong track? It just looked so peculiar.
Sue
Sorry for the late reply, that is an odd looking bird, but I would say female Red Backed Fairy Wren
Tegan - Melbourne Vic.
Thanks Tegan. I could not see it being anything else but it does look quite strange. The dust obscures the colour and the tail feathers were really tatty apart from which I thought it looked quite scrawny! The body seems too small for the rest of it.
The Corellas at Karratha were red with dust instead of white!
Sue
Nice find, that is one very skinny looking wren :-)