About
The Superb Fairywren is a tiny Australian gem whose breeding male wears a stunning costume of vivid cobalt blue and black. This dramatic plumage appears only during the breeding season; for the rest of the year, males molt into a dull brown resembling females. Males court females by plucking brightly colored flower petals and presenting them, a rare example of tool use for display in birds.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Physical Characteristics
Wingspan
16 cm
Length
11–14 cm
Weight
8–13 g
Ecology
Habitat
Eucalyptus forests, gardens, parks, shrublands
Diet
Insects, spiders, seeds
Distribution
Australia — southeastern and southwestern regions, Tasmania