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Superb Fairy-wren (male)

Malurus cyaneus

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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-32.4158, 150.115

Field Notes

Description:

About 140mm long. The male Superb Fairy-wren has a pale blue cap, cheeks and upper back. The long tail, chest and throat are dark royal blue. The belly is grey-white and wings are brown.

Habitat:

This one was flitting in and out of a recently dried cotoneaster in an open country paddock.

Notes:

Winter. A female was also present but more reticent to show herself. The shrub was dense and seemed to be home to at least one other small bird species (finches I think) It was particularly amusing to watch the tail wag back and forth as he called (pics 1 and 2).

Reference Links:

Superb Fairywren - Malurus cyaneus - IUCN Red List (Species Assessed for Global…, Superb Fairywren, Parks & Wildlife Service - Superb Fairy-wren

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Mark Ridgway
Thanks so much Alice. I especially liked the strange leaf colour against the blues. It's just a pity they are on the limits of my zoom so not very clear.
alicelongmartin
Wonderful composition, The second picture would look really good as a picture on your living room wall.

Spotted for Missions

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Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedAugust 22, 2013

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