Malurus cyaneus

Size: Birds Size: 14 cm

Family: Maluridae (Fairy-wrens, Emu-wrens, Grasswrens, 20 species in Australia).

Distribution: The Eastern 2/3 of NSW, Most of VIC, TAS, Several hundred km into SE QLD and small parts of SE SA.

Status: Common

Habitat: Open forests, swamps, coastal areas, rainforests, gardens. Often on the ground and in family groups.

References: Simpson and Day, Reader's Digest

About the Superb Fairy-wren

The Superb Fairy-wren is a lovely bird (there is another species that is actually called the Lovely Fairy-wren, but it is only found in far North QLD). It is often seen in gardens and parks in the Blue Mountains. They are usually on the ground or near it and rarely seen alone.

In the breeding season, half of the adult male bird develops a bright blue/black colouring, like in the photos below. When not in breeding colours, he looks similar to the brown ones in the photos below (which is how the females look all year round).

One of their calls is a trill that descends in pitch and is quite recognisable once you get to know the sound of it.

Photo: By Imogen Warren at Shutterstock. Higher Resolution 3382 x 2538.

Photo: By Glenda Rees at Shutterstock. Higher Resolution 5472 x 3648.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW.

Artwork: John Gould, 'The Birds of Australia', 1848. Higher Resolution 680 x 1000.

See Also

Australian Mammals
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces
Australian Wild Plant Foods

Return to Australian Birds