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Superb Fairy-Wren

Malurus cyaneus

Published on Project Noah
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-27.4437, 153.174

Field Notes

Description:

A dainty bird with a long, thin tail which is usually held at right angles to the body. Males have a blue crown, cheek and back and a black nape, rump, throat and breast, the tail is a slate blue and the belly is white. The females are brown above and buff below with a grey-brown tail. Neighbouring males often have song battles. By day they forage on the ground and in shrubs and at night they huddle together on branches.

Habitat:

Open forests, woodlands, gardens and park, common in long grasses and shrubs.

Notes:

This Fairy-wren was spotted at Minnippi Parklands just off the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane. I went to this park almost every afternoon for weeks and never failed to see them twittering around the long grass with a group of females following. They have such a beautiful song and cheeky character it was like they wanted you to follow them around and I used to be stuck for hours not being able to tear myself away from the cute little guys.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

I went day after day to this park and they were always there striking poses for me. Such cheeky little guys!
One of the few photos I've seen that shows the dark blue gorget (the area under the chin). Usually that just photographs as black.

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