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Superb Fairy-wrenAlternative names: "Blue Wren", "Superb Warbler", "Blue Bonnet*", "Blue Cap", "Blue Tit", "Mormon Wren", "Cocktail" |
Sightings
Superb Fairy-wrens are a common sight in the area of Narrabri, New South Wales. They are often found in high grass and bushes along roadsides, but are normally furtive. Especially when fed, they can become approachable.
A characteristic of all Fairy-wrens is that during their breeding season the males have much more colourful plumages than the females. While lower-ranked males molt back into inconspicuous plumages during the winter season, the α-male retains its colourful breeding plumage all year round (see photos).
Photos
Race cyanochlamys
Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren during the breeding season (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the end of the breeding season, while moulting into its winter plumage (click on image for larger version)
Male Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys) preening itself
Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys), which are much more inconspicuous than the males (click on image for larger version)
The same bird as shown above, now with its tail high up (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren on the ground (click on image for larger version)
View from behind of a female Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys; click on image for full-size display)
Typical posture of a female Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys), with its "antenna" high above its head; click on image for larger version
Habits
Superb Fairy-wrens are amongst the tamest Australian birds. When fed, they can come and sit on people's bodies without fear.
At the end of the breeding season the α male Superb Fairy-wrens retain their black and blue colours, while other males either don't have the adult plumage yet or loose it through the winter. The photos below show how, in the process of moulting, the blue/black feathers are replaced by more greyish ones. In 2007 the breeding season started in July, at which point the males could be seen in their full splendor.
Lateral view of a moulting young male Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys; click on image for larger version)
Backside of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren (cyanochlamys; click on image for larger version)
In the end the males have a plumage as shown below.
We have seen Superb Fairy-wrens share their territories with both Variegated Fairy-wrens and White-winged Fairy-wrens.