Common Name: Superb Fairy-wren also know as blue wrens
Scientific Name: Malurus cyaneus
Native to: South-eastern Australia
What does it look like: Adult male Fairy-wrens are brightly coloured, sporting vibrant blue and black plumage above and on their throat. Their colouring is especially rich during their breeding season. They have a grey-white belly and black bill. Females and young birds have mostly brown plumage above, with a dull red-orange area around their eyes and a brown bill.
Habitat and Diet: Superb Fairy-wrens inhabit most habitats with suitable dense cover and low shrubs, including urban, grassland, forest, woodland and heathland. They are common in urban parks and gardens and create small social groups, usually consisting of one dominant male, several females, and young birds. A Superb Fairy-wrens diet comprises insects and other small arthropods, seeds, and fruits. They feed in small social groups, mostly at ground level or low bushes. Fairy-wrens have relatively weak powers of flight but have long legs. For this reason, they spend most of their time on the ground, hopping as they forage for food
STEM Fun Fact: Superb Fairy-wrens have been labelled ‘the least faithful birds in the world’. Up to 13 males may court females in half an hour. New research has revealed that male Fairy-wrens sing to their eggs and their chicks come out recognising their parent’s unique song. The male will court the female during mating seasons by presenting yellow petals. Superb fair-wrens will mate with multiple partners and have been labelled ‘the least faithful bird in the world’.
