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16

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Alternate name(s): "Superb Blue Wren", "Blue Wren", "Jenny Wren", "Superb Warbler", "Blue Cap", "Blue Tit", "Mormon Wren", "Cocktail"; misnomer: "Blue Bonnet*" Aboriginal name(s): "tjitjiR" [tjapwurrung] Size: 13-14 cm Weight: 8-13 g

Australia: Family Group 16 Family Group 16 Table Purple-crowned Fairy-wren White-winged Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren Variegated Fairy-wren Purple-backed Fairy-wren Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Lovely Fairy-wren Red-wingeded Fairy-wren Red-backed Fairy-wren Southern Emu-wren Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Carpentarian Grasswren Eyrean Grasswren Striated Grasswren Thick-billed Grasswren Western Grasswren Dusky Grasswren Kalkadoon Grasswren Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Superb Fairy-wrens are tiny birds with long tails. Like all other Australian fairy-wren species, their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. In addition, male Superb Fairy-wrens have different breeding and eclipse plumages. Male Superb Fairy-wrens in breeding plumage have black lores and eye stripes that extend into a broad black band across the nape of the neck. The rest of the head and mantle are shiny blue, while the chest is dark-blue, with a black band below it. The belly and vent are off-white, the wings are light grey-brown and the rump is black. The tail is dark-blue. The bill is black, the legs and feet are grey. Female Superb Fairy-wrens have an off-white throat and light-brown front, with a light grey-brown head, and back brown wings and a greyish-brown tail. Females have brown lores and eye rings. The bill is dark-grey, the legs and feet are greyish-pink. Male Superb Fairy-wrens in eclipse have grey lores and retain their blue tail; they also keep their greyish legs and feet, but otherwise they resemble females. Juvenile Superb Fairy-wrens resemble females, but they have a lighter front and, while still very young, a shorter tail.

Taxonomy, classification See Superb Fairywren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Superb Fairy-wren is available HERE . Superb Fairy-wrens are endemic to Australia. They populate only the East and South-East of the Australian continent. They are found in the Great Dividing Range south of the tropic of Capricorn. From about Brisbane, QLD, they are also found along the East coast. In the South their range extends, via the eastern half of NSW (including the Murray River catchment), all through VIC and into the south-eastern corner of SA, up to about Adelaide. They are also found on the islands across Bass Strait and in Tasmania. The mainland races are "cyanochlamys" (to the North and East of Wilson's Promontory, QLD) and "leggei" further West. Nominate race "cyaneus" is found in Tasmania, "samueli" and "elizabethae" on the islands of Bass Strait. Race "ashbyi" occurs only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Superb Fairy-wrens can be found in different habitats, e.g. in dense coastal growth and in reeds in swamps, marshes and around freshwater lakes, but (in the interior) also in open grassland in tall grass or weeds, often by roadsides. They adapt easily to the presence of humans and are also found in manmade habitats, e.g. around farms and in gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cyaneus" B. Hensen reports finding Superb Fairy-wrens, nominate race "cyaneus", on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton spotted Superb Fairy-wrens, nominate race "cyaneus", at Mt. Nelson, Hobart, TAS, and along the Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, in April 2021. Others were found in St. Helens, TAS, in September 2021. C. Pears found Superb Fairy-wrens, nominate race "cyaneus", on the main island and on Bruny Island, TAS, in the timeframe December 2022 to January 2023. Race "cyanochlamys" Superb Fairy-wrens, race "cyanochlamys", are widespread and a common sight in the area of Narrabri and other parts of NSW and VIC, including the inland side of the Great Dividing Range. They are often found by us in tall grass and dense shrubs or weeds along roadsides, but are normally furtive. When fed they can become very tame. J. Butler reports seeing Superb Fairy-wrens, race "cyanochlamys", regularly at Warwick, in southern inland QLD. M. Mearns reports spotting Superb Fairy-wrens, race "cyanochlamys", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. R. Plumtree reports seeing Superb Fairy-wrens, race "cyanochlamys", regularly in the area of East Gippsland, VIC. Race "ashbyi" J. Greaves reports finding Superb Fairy-wrens, race "ashbyi", at Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "cyaneus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in near-eclipse plumage, with only a few blue feathers left
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Nelson, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Nelson, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Race "cyanochlamys"

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren out to impress (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2019]

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage; note the light-blue fringe below this bird's black "bib"
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2017]

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Kingaroy, QLD, May 2020]

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage displaying its crest
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2013]

Near-frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage in reeds by a freshwater lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Near-frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Near-frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, April 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingaroy, QLD, June 2018]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage issuing it call
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage seen preening
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2013]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren on the ground
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage, with its tail cocked as typical of Fairy-wrens
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]

Dorsal view of the same male Superb Fairy-wren as above
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

A bit of preening also strengthens the family bonds...
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the end of the breeding season, while moulting into its winter plumage
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the start of the breeding season, while moulting into its breeding plumage; note how the feathers around the eyes turn blue first; the bird is also growing new tail feathers
[Near Wee Waa, September 2012]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren at the end of the breeding season, while moulting into its non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, March 2013]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in eclipse
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, July 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up dorsal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Frontal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren, which are much more inconspicuous than the males
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2011]

Near-lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, July 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, July 2016]

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2018]

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]

The same female Superb Fairy-wren as shown above, now with its tail high up
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2010]

Dorsal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

PAIR

(Near-)frontal view of a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Lateral view of a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Fairy, VIC, April 2022]

Lateral view of a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens hiding in a bottlebrush
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

This male Superb Fairy-wren is moulting into its first adult plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile Superb Fairy-wren - note the brown (rather than bluish-grey) tail
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a juvenile Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Superb Fairy-wren - note the yellow gape and the not yet fully developed tail
(photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]

Frontal view of a very young Superb Fairy-wren chick, probably a fledgling (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]

Fledgling Superb Fairy-wren begging for food (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]

Lateral view of a fledgling Superb Fairy-wren begging for food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Race "ashbyi"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in breeding plumage foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in eclipse plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in eclipse plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Near-frontal view of a female Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 13 - 15 days

Fledging age: ca. 12 days

Nest building: Dominant female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Family clan

Nest

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

Type: Dome

Material: Rootlets, grass stems; feather lining

Height above ground: 0.2 - 1.2 m

View straight into a Superb Fairy-wren nest with the female inside (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2017]

Close-up view into a Superb Fairy-wren nest, with two of three chicks visible (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

This Superb Fairy-wren nest was found at a height of about 1.2 m in a dense, prickly grevillea shrub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]

Two of three chicks are visible in this photo; the noise of their begging must have been heard by cats - yet they all survived
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]

Another example of a Superb Fairy-wren nest in a rural garden without cats - here the male is seen feeding the offspring
(photo courtesy of J. Butler)
[Warwick, QLD, January 2015]

Female Superb Fairy-wren at its nest (photo courtesy of J. Butler)
[Warwick, QLD, January 2015]

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

Superb Fairy-wren nest hidden in a low, dense shrub, about 30 cm above ground; this photo was obtained in a rural garden where there are no cats
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]

Female Superb Fairy-wren carrying nest material (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2019]

Female Superb Fairy-wren carrying material to line its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Eggs

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

Size: 17 x 12 mm

Colour: Light cream, with mid- to dark-brown specks

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Family clan

Superb Fairy-wrens are amongst the tamest Australian birds. When fed, they can come and sit on people's bodies without fear.

At the end of the breeding season the α-male Superb Fairy-wrens possibly retain their black and blue colours, while other males either don't have the adult plumage yet or loose it through the winter. The photos below show how, in the process of moulting, the blue/black feathers are replaced by more greyish ones. In 2007 the breeding season started in July, at which point the males could be seen in their full splendor. In early July 2011 the first male was seen starting to mould into breeding plumage.

Lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in full breeding plumage; this shot was taken in the middle of winter, when most likely only the α-male of the clan had its breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Near-frontal view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]

The same moulting male Superb Fairy-wren as above, now seen sideways, with its head turned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]

Near-lateral view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Dorsal view of a moulting male Superb Fairy-wren
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, January 2006]

Lateral view of a young male Superb Fairy-wren in the last stage of moulting into eclipse plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, March 2009]

In the end the males have an eclipse plumage, as shown below.

Male Superb Fairy-wren in autumn, outside the breeding season
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, April 2006]

The 2013/2014 breeding season, which started with an exceptionally dry spring in the north-west of NSW, was particularly bad for many bird species. During the summer of 2014 we noticed that there were some Superb Fairy-wren family clans without an α-male in breeding plumage (see photo below).

To the best of our knowledge, this male Superb Fairy-wren is the α-male of its clan - note how in the middle of summer it has lost most of its breeding colours; one other male in the same clan looked similar at the time
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Although territorial, we have seen Superb Fairy-wrens share their territories with both Variegated Fairy-wrens and White-winged Fairy-wrens.

Food, Diet

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

Male Superb Fairy-wren whacking a big meal into submission (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2012]

Male Superb Fairy-wren with its catch, a flying insect (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, April 2020]

Male Superb Fairy-wren with its catch, a flying insect (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, April 2020]

Male Superb Fairy-wren with its catch, a small grub (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a male Superb Fairy-wren in non-breeding plumage with a morsel of food (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Blackbutt, QLD, July 2020]

Female Superb Fairy-wren with its catch, a small grub (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Female Superb Fairy-wren with a blow fly (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Female Superb Fairy-wren with a moth (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Lateral view of a female Superb Fairy-wren scavenging food (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulburn River NP, NSW, June 2022]

Superb Fairy-wren hunting around a rockpool
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, April 2013]

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.

frywren_me_20210926.m4a	cyaneus (TAS)	Territorial call (male)	© ME
frywren_20181001.m4a	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Territorial call (male)	© MD
frywren_20210313.m4a	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Territorial call	© MD
frywren_20140115.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Warning calls	© MD
frywren_20140519.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (Aust. Raven)	© MD
frywren_20141119.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (human)	© MD
frywren_20221028.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Various (exploring recorder)	© MD
frywren_20140723_3.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
frywren_20170912_2.m4a	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
frywren_20170912.m4a	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Various	© MD

Click here for more recordings

We have also recorded the wing beat of a Superb Fairy-wren.

frywren_20140723_2.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Departure	© MD
frywren_20140520.mp3	cyanochlamys (NW NSW)	Hawking for insects	© MD

More Superb 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.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 21 April 2023, 8:56 +00:00