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Superb Fairy Wren

Malurus cyaneus

Photo by Grum
Published on Project Noah
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-34.3255, 150.918

Field Notes

Description:

Tiny bird - maybe 2-3" long. Perhaps it is a youngster, or just a small bird. Other birds around at the time were Red-browed Finches (but by the shape of the beak, I don't think this is any kind of finch), and some Fairy Wrens (Superb Fairy Wrens, I think), but this bird does not have the long tail of the wrens - again, maybe it is a youngster? Not sure when they hatch.
Pointy beak indicates it is an insect eater, maybe, and I wonder if the orange flash across the eye helps identify it? Apart from the total absence of a red breast, it reminded me very much (in shape and size) of the Robin Redbreasts I used to see back in England in the winters

Habitat:

This was the same habitat as the Red-browed Finches - on the margin between woodland and marshy grassland. About 1/2 to 1km inland from the sea. South-East Australia (60km south of Sydney).

Notes:

Thanks all for the help with ID

Species ID Suggestions

Superb Fairy Wren (female or juvenile?)

Malurus cyaneus

Comments (4)

Nice shot Grum. Very busy little birds and hard to snap.
Definitely a female fairy wren. Young males have black around their eyes and darker bills.
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 6, 2013

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