Aust birds    Bird names   News   1-26    Habitats    Key plants    Glossary    Plumage    Nests    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Sponsors    Photos for sale   
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14 15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   W   Y  

16

Splendid Fairy-wren

(Malurus splendens)
Alternate name(s): "Splendid Wren", "Banded Wren", "Black-backed Blue Wren", "Turquoise Wren"
Aboriginal name(s): "miril-yiril-yiri"
Collectively, the three species White-winged Fairy-wren, Splendid Fairy-wren and Purple-backed Fairy-wren, are called "miril-yiril-yiri" along the northern edge of the Nullarbor

Size: 13-14 cm
Weight: 8-12 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 Splendid Fairy-wren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "splendens"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Gnoocardup, WA, December 2016]

Near-frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Gnoocardup, WA, December 2016]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Minchinson)
[Quindalup, WA, January 2015]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, January 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Gnoocardup, WA, December 2016]

Lateral view of a moulting male Splendid Fairy-wren, with much of the breeding plumage still visible; note the absence of any tail feathers (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a moulting male Splendid Fairy-wren; note the absence of any tail feathers (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, January 2015]

Dorsal view of a moulting male Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, January 2015]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, August 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage; Splendid Fairy-wrens are the only one of the "brown" fairy-wren species retaining some blue on the wings in eclipse (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage issuing its call
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Beeliar North Lake, Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, August 2022]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, August 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]

Lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Race "melanotus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Frontal view of a preening male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage with a petal in its bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage with a petal in its bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Mt. Hope, Nombinnie NP, NSW, September 2010]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2022]

Near-lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Race "musgravi"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

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

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

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

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

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, October 2022]

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

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan Eggs: 3 - 4 Incubation period: 14 - 16 days Fledging age: ca. 14(?) days

Nest building: Dominant female Incubation: Female Dependent care: Family clan

View into a Splendid Fairy-wren nest which at the time had hatchlings in it (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Dome Material: Grass stems, webs; feather lining Height above ground: 0.5 - 1.5 m

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 17 x 13 mm Colour: Light cream, with sparse mid- to dark-brown specks Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Family clan

As all other species of Fairy-wrens, male Splendid Fairy-wrens have breeding and non-breeding (eclipse) plumages.

Frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren moulting into breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Charles)
[Mt. Hope, Nombinnie NP, NSW, September 2010]

Splendid Fairy-wrens can be used as hosts by small cuckoos, such as e.g. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo.

Juvenile Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo begging to be fed by a male Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)

Juvenile Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo begging to be fed by a female Splendid Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)

Food, Diet

It is normally difficult to see what exactly Spendid Fairy-wrens feed on. Probably their mainstay are small insects. Below a photo showing a male bird that has caught some a relatively large insect, making it clear that these birds are carnivorous.

Close-up frontal view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage bringing food for its chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage bringing food for its chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Opalton, QLD, August 2022]

Near-lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage with an insect is has caught
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral view of a male Splendid Fairy-wren with its prey
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren scavenging on bread (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]

Lateral view of a female Splendid Fairy-wren scavenging on bread (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]

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.

splwren_20170920.m4a splendens
(W NSW)
Territorial call (male) © MD
splwren_20170920_2.m4a splendens
(W NSW)
Territorial call Q&A © MD
splwren_jg_20150124.mp3 splendens
(SW WA)
Territorial call (male?) © JG

More Splendid 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.