Easy Street Retreat is situated on the banks of the Bellinger River in the Thora Valley near Bellingen in NSW Australia .

photography - superb fairy wren

Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) are numerous at Easy Street Retreat. They love the long grass in front of the house and are so small and delicate that they can sit on the top of a long strand of grass and only bend it slightly. They flock in social groups around newly overturned soil and some more daring individuals pluck insects from the spider webs on our verandah railing. They are energetic, jaunty little creatures, hopping, jumping, courting, preening, feeding and singing.

The adult males are strikingly coloured with rich blue and black plumage on their head, upper back and throat. Females and juveniles of both sexes are pale greyish green. The males seem to loose their brilliant colouring in the non-breeding season.

They feed on insects and other small arthropods which are caught mostly on the ground, but may also be taken from low bushes.

The Superb Fairy-wren gives a series of high pitched trills, which are given by both sexes. The male often extends these trills into song. Call in MP3 format (299kb, 19 sec).