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Variegated Fairy-wrenAlternative name: "Purple-backed Wren", "Lavender-flanked Wren", "Bernier Island Blue Wren", "Lambert's Superb Warbler", "Lambert's Wren", "Dulcet Fairy Wren" Aboriginal name: Collectively, the three species White-winged Fairy-wren, Splendid Fairy-wren and Variegated Fairy-wren, are called "miril-yiril-yiri" along the northern edge of the Nullarbor Size: 13-14 cm Weight: 6-11 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 Variegated
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 |
Several families of Variegated Fairy-wrens, race "assimilis", were spotted by us, without any doubt about their identification, in the area 15-30 km east of Narrabri, NSW, e.g. in Deriah Forest. We have found at least two families sharing their territories with Superb Fairy-wrens (early in the breeding season).
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Race "assimilis"
Frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren
[Narrabri, NSW, November 2010]
The same male Variegated Fairy-wren as above, now shown together with
two females
[Narrabri, NSW, November 2010]
Here a male Variegated Fairy-wren with its head turned, showing the
purplish blue colour of its crown; this identifies the bird as a
specimen of race "assimilis"
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, September 2008]
Here two male Variegated Fairy-wrens conveniently aligned such that
one is seen from the front, the other sideways; note the complexity
of the colour patterns giving the species its name
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, September 2008]
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of
C. Hayne)
This male Variegated Fairy-wren, which was observed by us hunting for
insects in dense scrub,
is moulting out of its breeding plumage
[Deriah Forest, NSW, April 2011]
Frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren, race "assimilis"
[Deriah Forest, NSW, April 2011]
Near-frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
Near-frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren, different posture
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
Near-lateral view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
[Deriah Forest, NSW, April 2011]
Lateral view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
[Deriah Forest, NSW, April 2011]
The same female Variegated Fairy-wren as above, now seen more from
behind; note the brown tint at the base of the wings
[Deriah Forest, NSW, April 2011]
Female Variegated Fairy-wren taking a bath
[Deriah Forest, NSW, February 2009]
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Twitcher's tip |
White lining of the tail feathers is characteristic of Variegated Fairy-wrens - note that many field guides do not mention this distinguishing feature!
Two views of a male bird in non-breeding plumage, with the white
lining of its tail feathers prominently visible
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, July 2011]
Race "lamberti"
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[South West Rocks, NSW, September 2012]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Jul - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 14 - 16 days | Fledging age: 10 - 12 days |
Three fledgling Variegated Fairy-wren chicks hiding low in a wilga tree
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
Variegated Fairy-wrens have a particularly short fledging period for their chicks, compared to the incubation period. This leads to the effect shown below.
Frontal view of a Variegated Fairy-wren hatchling - it and its siblings
could hardly fly; from the front "the job looks almost complete"
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
Dorsal view of a Variegated Fairy-wren hatchling; from behind the
story is quite different - in 10-12 days there is just not enough
time to grow long tail feathers...
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
| Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Family clan |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Dome | Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs | Height above ground: 0.1 - 0.4 m |
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 17 x 13 mm | Colour: Creamy, with light-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Family clan |
Although territorial, we have seen Variegated Fairy-wrens share their territories with Superb Fairy-wrens.
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Food, Diet |
Fairy-wrens feed on small animals, such as insects.
Dad Variegated Fairy-wren bringing food for his chicks
[Gundabooka NP,
NSW, September 2012]
