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16

Blue-breasted Fairy-wren

(Malurus pulcherrimus)
Alternate name(s): "Purple-breasted Fairy-wren", "Blue-breasted Superb Warbler",
"Blue-breasted Superb Fairy-wren", "Blue-breasted Wren"

Size: 13.5-15 cm
Weight: 8-11 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Blue-breasted Fairy-wren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Direct comparison of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, left, and a male Purple-backed Fairy-wren, both in breeding plumage; note how the bib of the male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren is deep-blue, with a black lower margin, whereas that of the male Purple-backed Fairy-wren is all-black (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP and Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage, tail cocked (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage, tail down (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a male Blue-breasted Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Direct comparison of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, left, and a female Purple-backed Fairy-wren; since female Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens have a darker bill, there is less colour contrast with the lores than in female Purple-backed Fairy-wrens (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP and Whyalla CP, SA, October 2022]

Lateral view of a female Blue-breasted Fairy-wren looking away from the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

PAIR

BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a pair of Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens, male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles CP, SA, October 2022]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blbwren_me_20221026.mp3 (S SA) ? © ME

More Blue-breasted Fairy-wren sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.