The Purple-backed Fairywren inhabits dense inland Australian scrub and saltbush. It moves close to the ground and through grasses while searching for arthropods and seeds.
In breeding plumage, the male has a blue crown, ear-coverts, and collar, a vivid blue back, and contrasting chestnut scapulars.
It searches for arthropods in dense scrub and saltbush and also eats some seeds. The compiled species account describes it as feeding among low cover.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.