Superb Fairywren
Malurus cyaneus
The Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) is a common grasswrens, fairywrens, and emu-wren found in 2 countries, weighing about 10 g. The superb fairywren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae, and is common and familiar across south-eastern Australia.
About the Superb Fairywren
The superb fairywren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae, and is common and familiar across south-eastern Australia. It is a sedentary and territorial species, also exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism; the male in breeding plumage has a striking bright blue forehead, ear coverts, mantle, and tail, with a black mask and black or dark blue throat. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown in colour; this gave the early impression that males were polygamous, as all dull-coloured birds were taken for females. Six subspecies groups are recognized: three larger and darker forms from Tasmania, Flinders and King Island respectively,…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The superb fairywren is 14 cm (5+1⁄2 in) long and weighs 8–13 g (0.28–0.46 oz), with males on average slightly larger than females. The average tail length is 5.9 cm (2+1⁄3 in), among the shortest in the genus. Averaging 9 mm (0.4 in) in subspecies cyaneus and 8 mm (0.3 in) in subspecies cyanochlamys, the bill is relatively long, narrow and pointed and wider at the base. Wider than it is deep, the bill is similar in shape to those of other birds that feed by probing for or picking insects off their environs. Voice: Vocal communication among superb fairywrens is used primarily for communication between birds in a social group and for advertising and mobbing, or defending a territory. The basic, or Type I, song is a 1–4 second high-pitched reel consisting of 10–20 short elements per second; it is sung by both males and females.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Japan.
When to see it
The Superb Fairywren can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Superb Fairywren?
- The superb fairywren is 14 cm (5+1⁄2 in) long and weighs 8–13 g (0.28–0.46 oz), with males on average slightly larger than females. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Superb Fairywren?
- The Superb Fairywren is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see a Superb Fairywren?
- The Superb Fairywren occurs in 2 countries, including Australia.
- What birds look similar to a Superb Fairywren?
- The Superb Fairywren is most easily confused with the Red-backed Fairywren, the Variegated Fairywren and the Splendid Fairywren.
- Is the Superb Fairywren endangered?
- The Superb Fairywren is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Superb Fairywren for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.