The Superb Fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus, is a spectacular and fortunately common bird of southeast Australia, Tasmania and a few other nearby smaller islands. It is a small songbird that supplements its diet of insects with a few berries, seeds and edible flowers.
The male has much more showy plumage during the breeding season and is easily noticed and identified.
Classification:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Maluridae
Genus: Malurus
Species: M. cyaneus
Photos:
Superb Fairy-wren
Malurus cyaneus
Photo courtesy of Gerard31
Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)
Photo courtesy of Jen 64
A young male superb fairy wren
Photo courtesy of Anitka_Eva
Superb Fairy-wren singing
"This is a reprise of one posted earlier, now with his feet added back in. I chopped them off the first time because he was sitting on an uninspiring wire, but have now replaced the wire with a more beautiful branch. The background is natural, not manipulated, but not sure where the yellow comes from - maybe flowers on a bush."
Photo courtesy of aaardvaark
Little bird in bullrushes
"Superb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus …. photo taken in Canberra, Australia."
Photo courtesy of Anitka_Eva
Note: It was very hard to pick just a few pictures of this bird. There were so many good ones. Even the ones from the photographers that I picked are just a few of the many that they have taken.
Apparently this little thing is on the “1001 Birds to See Before You Die” book. 999 to go, then. Read more…
ianmichaelthomas hat ein Foto gepostet:. The World Is My Stage! What a wonderfully little jaunty angle this bird has! Superb Fairy-wren Scientific name: Malurus cyaneus Family: Maluridae Order: Passeriformes Superb Blue Fairy Wren … Read more…
Video:
Commentary:
Superb Fairy-wren — Brisbane, Australia
Australia is not known for faeryfolk. However, recent research shows that some pucks trekked from Ireland to Australia when England shipped her prisoners to the desert continent. All faeryfolk are considered to be territorial. … Read more…
(Not sure what to think about that one.)
MOST OF US have been there, you grab your hat and your bins and get out of the car and immediately the air is alive with bird song. You quickly realise that you’re surrounded by that rare level of diversity, abundance and activity which … Read more…
As I was stopped at the lights in my car on the way to work today (I’ve gotten very lazy in recent times), this delightful little guy (well probably not this exact one, but one just like him) sat upon my side mirror and was desperately … Read more…
Naturally … with Kia Angele and the Fairywren
This is the breeding season for the Superb Fairy-wren, also more commonly known as the Blue wren. You will see a lot of them around right now especially where there is suitable dense cover and low shrubs. They are common in urban parks … Read more…
This would appear to be a chick although we are not certain, it is just that this one looks fluffier that the others. Dad The male Superb Fairy Wren has bright plumage, at the moment brighter blue than normal as it is the mating plumage … Read more…
Kiwi back in Sydney!: Through the wonky aluminium window…
Fairy wrens aren’t rare, and they featured among the specimens removed and examined by Cook’s expedition, who proved their knickerbockers and frilly shirts by dandily naming the varieties; the Superb Fairy Wren and the Splendid Fairy … Read more…
February 6th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
[...] Brown Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla, is closely related to the Superb Fairy-wren. But, in contrast, it is a very plain bird. Nonetheless, it is interesting in its own right. It [...]