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Variegated Fairy-wrenAlternate name(s): "Lavender-flanked Wren", "Bernier Island Blue Wren", "Lambert's Superb Warbler", "Lambert's Wren", "Dulcet Fairy Wren" Size: 13-14 cm Weight: 6-11 g |
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Similar |
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See Variegated
Fairy-wren at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
Frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]
Near-frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-frontal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[South West Rocks, NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-dorsal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Dorsal view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
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NON-BREEDING |
Near-lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
Near-frontal view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Near-lateral view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Lateral view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
Lateral view of a female Variegated Fairy-wren in a state of
excitement
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, June 2018]
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PAIR |
Lateral view of a pair of Variegated Fairy-wrens, male in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, July 2022]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Jul - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 14 - 16 days | Fledging age: 10 - 12 days |
Variegated Fairy-wren nest in a low shrub (photo courtesy of
E.
Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, September 2016]
Variegated Fairy-wrens have a particularly short fledging period for their chicks, compared to the incubation period.
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Family clan |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Dome | Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs | Height above ground: 0.1 - 0.4 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: Creamy, with light-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Family clan |
Although territorial, we have seen Variegated Fairy-wrens share their territories with Superb Fairy-wrens, even during the breeding season.
Like other Fairy-wrens, male Variegated Fairy-wrens have distinctly different breeding and eclipse plumages.
Lateral view of a male Variegated Fairy-wren moulting into breeding
plumage
[Manning Point, NSW, July 2013]
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Food, Diet |
Fairy-wrens feed on small animals, such as insects.
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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.
varwren_me_20220722.m4a |
lamberti (SE QLD) |
Territorial call (+ White-plumed Honeyeater) | © ME | |
varwren_me_20220722.m4a |
lamberti (SE QLD) |
Territorial call (+ Scarlet Honeyeater) | © ME | |
varwren_art_20131125.mp3 |
lamberti (SE QLD) |
Pair Q&A | © ART |
More Variegated Fairy-wren sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.