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SPECIES PROFILE

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)

Malurus

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) — Southeastern Australia, Queensland to SA, Tasmania

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Aves

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Southeastern Australia, Queensland to SA, Tasmania

DIET

Insectivorous

HABITAT

Forests, woodlands, heathlands, suburban gardens with shrubs

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Passeriformes

FAMILY

Maluridae

GENUS

Malurus

📋 Description

SIZE

14 cm long, wingspan 18-22 cm; 8-13 grams

COLORATION

Breeding males bright blue, black throat; non-breeding/females brown, orange eye-ring

ADAPTATIONS

Agile movements for dense undergrowth, long tail cocked

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Forests, woodlands, heathlands, suburban gardens with shrubs

DIET

Insectivorous

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Southeastern Australia, Queensland to SA, Tasmania

REPRODUCTION

Lays 3-4 eggs in dome-shaped nests, incubated 14 days; fledglings leave 10-12 days

DIET DETAILS

Feeds on small insects, spiders, occasionally seeds

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Habitat fragmentation, cat predation

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Blue Brilliance: Male superb fairy-wrens molt into vibrant blue in Wilsons Promontory, their 14 cm bodies catching 30 insects daily in dense shrubs. Their millions-strong population, with cooperative groups, thrives, though cats kill 10% yearly.

2

Social Helpers: In Ku-ring-gai Chase, non-breeding males aid dominant pairs, their 13-gram bodies foraging in Mount Lofty’s gardens. Their dome nests, producing 20 fledglings over a lifetime, ensure survival, despite habitat loss reducing 15% of shrublands.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria has Tidal River heathlands and shrubs for fairy-wren sightings

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in New South Wales features West Head dense undergrowth for fairy-wren sightings

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in South Australia Adelaide has garden bushes for fairy-wren sightings

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

September-December. Spring breeding season makes wrens active in shrublands for displays.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Visit dense shrubs at dawn to see male wrens displaying.