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Superb Fairywren

Malurus cyaneus · Species of bird
Order
Passeriformes
Codes
supfai1, SUFA

About the Superb Fairywren

The superb fairywren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae, and is common and familiar across south-eastern Australia. It is a sedentary and territorial species, also exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism; the male in breeding plumage has a striking bright blue forehead, ear coverts, mantle, and tail, with a black mask and black or dark blue throat. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown in colour; this gave the early impression that males were polygamous, as all dull-coloured birds were taken for females. Six subspecies groups are recognized: three larger and darker forms from Tasmania, Flinders and King Island respectively, and three smaller and paler forms from mainland Australia and Kangaroo Island.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFairywrens (Maluridae)
SpeciesMalurus cyaneus
Species Codessupfai1, SUFA

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Superb Fairywren belong to?

The Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) belongs to the Fairywrens family (Maluridae), in the order Passeriformes.

How can I identify the Superb Fairywren?

The superb fairywren is a passerine bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae, and is common and familiar across south-eastern Australia. It is a sedentary and territorial species, also exhibiting a high degree of sexual dimorphism; the male in breeding plumage has a striking bright blue foreh...

Where can I report a Superb Fairywren sighting?

You can log sightings of Superb Fairywren on eBird (ebird.org) using species code supfai1, or on iNaturalist.