African crimson-winged finch brown breast and flank markings on Asian birds are more extensive than on African birds; and African birds have less black on the crown than Asian birds (on males it often tends to be restricted to the forecrown). Male birds also differ compared to the Asian birds in that they lack the extensive pink in their uppertail-coverts, no black spots on their breast-sides; less distinct black markings on the mantle and ear-coverts and almost no red on the face. African crimson-winged finch The African crimson-winged finch ("Rhodopechys alienus"), is a pale-colored thickset finch with a heavy, dull yellowish bill. It
Purple-crowned fairywren or reddish-chocolate in females) and the deep blue colour of their perky tails. Subspecies designation was originally based on differences in plumage coloration and body size of museum skins. More recent genetic analyses continue to support this split. The species was first collected in 1855 and 1856 by the surgeon J. R. Elsey at Victoria River and Robinson River. Alternative names for the purple-crowned fairywren include crowned superb warbler, lilac-crowned fairywren, lilac-crowned wren, mauve-crowned wren, purple-crowned warbler, purple-crowned wren, and purple-crowned wren-warbler. Two subspecies are currently recognized: The purple-crowned fairywren is a sexually dimorphic, small bird measuring approximately 14 cm