Explore the dazzling world of the amazing Fairy Wren found in south-eastern Australia, with its impressive multi-colored plumage
The Superb Fairy-wren is distributed in south-east Australia including Tasmania. It is found in a variety of shrubby habitats where there is some green grass and is often found near human habitation.
The male has a blue crown and mantle and blue ear-coverts which are sometimes held semi-erect as in photo 3. It has a black mask, nape, throat and chest and greyish-white underparts. Out of the breeding season the male moves into an eclipse plumage, seen here in photos 6 and 7, which is similar to female plumage but still shows a bluish tail and lacks the russet lores and eye-ring of the female.
There are 6 sub-species. The nominate sub-species is found in Tasmania and is seen here in photos 1 and 2. The sub-species M. c. cyanochlamys is found from central Queensland to Victoria and is seen here in photos 3 to 7. The males have a paler blue on the crown, mantle and ear-coverts and lack the faint bluish tinge just below the breast band that can be seen in the nominate male in photo 2.
The female M. c. cyanochlamys, seen here in photo 5, compared to the nominate female has a slightly smaller russet eye-ring, no bluish tinge to the tail and white with brownish flanks on the breast.
