(7 photos) – Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus
I see these little fairy’s all the time, hopping about in my paddocks and garden, but they also see me, hopping away and keeping a distance, making them a challenge to photograph. They are always onto me, like most birds, a combination of patience and luck is required to photograph them successfully.
These images were taken on four separate occasions over the past few weeks.
“Fairy Wrens keep their tails cocked while hopping on the ground or through bushes. They usually fly low over the ground or hop. While the males have strong vibrant colours, the females Juveniles and non-breeding males are much duller, being mostly brown bodies, but the males always have blue or dark blue tails.
“All fairy Wrens are social, living in groups that maintain their own territory. These cooperative groups consist of a dominant male, one female, subordinate non-breeding birds of both sexes and first year birds.”
[Field guide to the birds of Australia – Simpson and Day]
These wrens are fairly common in Tasmania and parts of mainland Australia, but it still feels pretty special to have real fairy’s living in my garden 😀 Thanks for visiting.
TasView 
“Fairy” wrens are aptly named. And yes, how lucky you are! They make me smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I like watching the their little groups and how they interact with other birds 🙂
LikeLike
They may be common there, but they are very special for us to see. Such sweet tiny things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t bumped up the saturation either, it would wash out the detail, the males are really that bright! They are very entertaining to watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s quite a fairy tail! 😉 Patience definitely paid off. So much detail; I see every tiny feather!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Morgaine, while getting info from my bird book I discovered there is another “Southern Emu-wren” in Tasmania with an even longer tail!! I’ve never seen one, but they live near the coast, so I won’t find them around my place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful tiny birds! Great photos, Tone.
LikeLike
Thanks John, it’s lots of fun watching their little family groups.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your fairy’s also have beautiful colors, too bad the birds in Belgium are not that colorful – except for a few.
Great shots Tone !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marc, we are pretty lucky 😀 The wrens hang out with the Flame Robins too which have bright red chests, they seem to look out for each other – and me. “Fly away, he’s coming again!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice colours, very sharp, lovely bird. Which lens?
LikeLike
Thanks David, aa Olympus 75-300 f4.8-6.7 II ED MSC which was a second-hand bargain recently 😀 It’s great when there’s enough light, but begins to struggle on overcast days for birding.
LikeLike
I love Fairy wrens too. We used to see them all the time here, but they have disappeared. I think removal of vegetation next door and the arrival of bigger and bossier birds have forced them out. But my husband did see one in the reeds by our dam the other day. Always a joy to behold!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the wren giving you the “hard eye” with the angle of it’s tail feathers suggesting the bird is a contortionist
LikeLike
What beautiful colours!! They are so very pretty 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, a lovely little bird to watch flit about 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fun
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those tails! Such confidence! Great photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 😀
LikeLike