Lovely Fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis) - Bird of the Month

Lovely Fairy Wrens (pair) in breeding plumage - Ingham, North Queensland

General Information: The Lovely Fairy Wren occurs from about Townsville in tropical north Queensland up the coast to the Atherton Tablelands and right across parts of Cape York Peninsula where ever, suitable habitat occurs.

This species favours the fringe of Mangroves, tropical dense coastal woodlands, dense swampy areas and particularly vine scrubs on Cape York. It is also quite common to find this fairy wren deep inside rainforest-especially in Iron Range National Park on Cape York Peninsula.

Like all fairy wrens, they live in parties of up to about 7 individuals, which mostly consists of about 5 females and two adult males, in comparison to the White Winged Fairy Wren which can have as many as 10 or more adults in a party.

The male Lovely Fairy Wren like all fairy wrens in Australia goes through a process that is called eclipse plumage. This means, that out of the breeding season males loose their bright colours and become almost indistinguishable from adult females-except for some irregular mottled patches over their feathers.

Fairy Wrens occupy their territories all year round and it is quite common for neighbours to be confrontational on territory borders, especially the males who emphasize their bright colours.

As the male becomes fully coloured when breeding he presents the female with a brightly coloured object in courtship and in the case of the Lovely Fairy Wren it is often a pink flower.

Usually there is only one dominant female within the party that lays and incubates the eggs.

She and the male spend a lot of time together during the lead up to nesting

However, all of the party members help raise the young, even when they fledge from the nest.

Lovely Fairy Wrens nest – Ingham North Eastern Queensland

Breeding: The Lovely Fairy Wren generally breeds from around mid July to late January and can raise as many as three broods in one season, depending on seasonal conditions.

As the breeding season approaches the male and dominant female become almost inseparable, frequently sitting quietly together and mutually preening each other within their breeding territory.

Whilst the nest is being constructed, the female is regularly fed caterpillars, small spiders and insects by the male. 

Nest: Dome shaped with a slightly hooded side entrance approximately 160mm deep x 85mm wide composed of dried grass stems, small leaves, bark fibre, vine

tendrils lightly bound together with spiders web. On rare occasions the author has seen a number of small spiders egg bags attached to the outside walls. Nest well lined with fine dried grass stems.

The nest is mostly well exposed for a fairy wren, usually positioned in the centre of a small upright green plant or bush or some times in smilax vines or other exposed plants from 30cm to 2 meters above ground.

Eggs: Two or three 16x12mm white, dotted and speckled sparingly with shades of pinkish brown and pale lilac, with a heavier zone of markings around the larger end.