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Splendid Fairy-wrenAlternate name(s): "Splendid Wren", "Banded Wren", "Black-backed Blue Wren", "Turquoise Wren" ![]() 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 |
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Photos |
Race "splendens"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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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"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Dome | Material: Grass stems, webs; feather lining | Height above ground: 0.5 - 1.5 m |
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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 |
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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)
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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]
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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
.