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Superb Fairy-wrenAlternative names: "Superb Blue Wren", "Blue Wren", "Jenny Wren", "Superb Warbler", "Blue Bonnet*" (misnomer), "Blue Cap", "Blue Tit", "Mormon Wren", "Cocktail" Size: 13-14 cm Weight: 8-13 g |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Superb Fairywren
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Superb Fairy-wrens, race "cyanochlamys", are a common sight in the area of Narrabri and other parts of NSW. They are often found in high grass and shrubs or weeds along roadsides, but are normally furtive. When fed they can become very tame.
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here 
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Race "cyanochlamys"
Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]
Male Superb Fairy-wren, different posture
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
in reeds by a freshwater lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage issuing his call
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
Dorsal view of the same male Superb Fairy-wren as above
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren on the ground
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage,
with its tail cocked as typical of Fairy-wrens
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the end of the
breeding season, while moulting into its winter plumage
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the start of the
breeding season, while moulting into its breeding plumage; note
how the feathers around the eyes turn blue first; the bird is
also growing new tail feathers
[Near Wee Waa, September 2012]
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the end of the
breeding season, while moulting into its non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, March 2013]
Male Superb Fairy-wren preening
[February 2009]
A bit of preening also strengthens the family bonds...
[Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]
(Near-)frontal view of a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens; female on the
left, male on the right (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]
Frontal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren,
which are much more inconspicuous than the males
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2011]
Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]
The same female Superb Fairy-wren as shown above, now with its tail high up
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]
Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Dorsal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Typical posture of a female Superb Fairy-wren,
with its "antenna" high above its head
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 13 - 15 days | Fledging age: ca. 14 - 17 days |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Dome | Material: Rootlets, grass stems; feather lining | Height above ground: 0.2 - 1.2 m |
Nest hidden in a low, dense bush, about 30 cm above ground;
this photo was obtained in a garden where there are no cats
Close-up view into a nest, with two of three chicks visible
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
This nest was found at a height of about 1.2 m, in a garden
where there are cats - in fact, the cats like to rest under the
grevillea bush with the nest at its top!
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]
Two of three chicks are visible in this photo; the noise
of their begging must have been heard by the cats - yet they
all survived
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 17 x 12 mm | Colour: Light cream, mid- to dark-brown specks at thick end | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Family clan |
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 possibly 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. In early July 2011 the first male was seen starting to mould into breeding plumage.
Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in full breeding plumage;
this shot was taken in the middle of winter, when most likely only
the α-male of the clan had its breeding plumage (photo
courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]
Near-frontal view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
The same moulting male Superb Fairy-wren as above, now seen sideways,
with its head turned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Near-lateral view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy
of R. Druce)
Dorsal view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, January 2006]
Lateral view of a young male Superb Fairy-wren in the last
stage of moulting into eclipse plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, March 2009]
In the end the males have a plumage as shown below.
Male Superb Fairy-wren in autumn, outside the breeding season
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, April 2006]
Although territorial, we have seen Superb Fairy-wrens share their territories with both Variegated Fairy-wrens and White-winged Fairy-wrens.
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Food, Diet |
It is normally difficult to see what exactly Superb Fairy-wrens feed on. Probably their mainstay are small insects. Below a photo showing a young male bird that has caught some kind of insect, making it clear that these birds are carnivorous.
Male Superb Fairy-wren whacking a big meal into submission
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2012]
Female Superb Fairy-wren with its catch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Superb Fairy-wren hunting around a rockpool/A>
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, April 2013]
