Superb Fairywren

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

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, and three smaller and paler forms from mainland Australia and Kangaroo Island.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

1. 01

   Brilliant iridescent blue crown & ear-coverts (breeding ♂)

   Striking iridescent sky-blue plumage on forehead and cheeks.

2. 02

   Velvety black mask, throat, & breast band (breeding ♂)

   Distinct black pattern extending from bill through eye to throat and breast.

3. 03

   Reddish-brown bill & lores (♀)

   The area between the eye and the bill is reddish-brown.

4. 04

   Long, often cocked, blue-washed tail

   Very long for body size, often held vertically, with a distinct blue wash in males.