Fairy-Wrens are among the most spectacular birds found in Australia. They are tiny, brilliantly colored with splashes of azure-blue. Fairy-Wrens are always very active in the bush and on the ground – they are constantly flitting around, never sitting still and always jumping from one branch to another. They are eye-catching species that brighten one’s day when spotted and watched. Of the nearly 900 species of birds in Australia, Fairy-Wrens are real gems.
Fairy-Wrens are distributed throughout Australia. There are nine species of Fairy-Wrens in the family Maluridae. In south-western Australia where I live, there are four species. The Splendid Fairy-Wren (Malurus splendens) occurs in much of western Australia. The male is a brilliant turquoise blue, and the female is a dull brown. The long, vertical erect tail is the signature of the Fairy-Wrens. The tail is about five to six cm long and comprises one-half the bird’s length.
Red-winged Fairy-Wren (Malurus elegans) is an endemic to a very small range in the extreme south-west of western Australia. The male has a brilliant blue head, brown back, and black bib and breast, while the female is a dull brown. Also known as the Marsh Wren, this species frequents thick scrub and swampy vegetation in the jarrah-karri forests of western Australia. Photographing Fairy-Wrens is challenging because they are tiny, very active and constantly flitting around and inhabit the edge of the bush and scrubby vegetation. Late Winter to early Spring is when the dominant male Fairy Wrens start to change color. The male Splendid Fairy Wrens have the most striking iridescent blue feathers during breeding season and highly promiscuous. Often, he will have a harem of female Wrens. So entertaining and interesting to watch, they really make your day.
