Wallace's Fairywren Sipodotus wallacii Scientific name definitions

c. 11–12·5 cm; 7–8 g. Male nominate race has crown and nape black with light blue feather tips; black face, white incomplete eyering, white lanceolate ear-tufts; scapulars and back rusty brown, upperwing brownish-grey, tail brownish; entire under­surface white; iris red-brown; bill long, straight and broad, bluntly pointed, black with white tip; legs short, slender, flesh-brown. Female is similar to male, except for pale yellowish wash on throat (deepest in W of range), usually duller crown. Immature is generally duller than adult, with crown speckled buff (not blue), ear-tufts and bill shorter. Race <em>coronatus</em> differs from nominate in having undersurface washed creamy.

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Rainforest at 100–800 m, occasionally higher, to c. 1250 m; more in trees than in undergrowth.

Resident.

Presumed largely insectivorous. Forages mainly 2–10 m above ground in tangles of climbers at edge of openings in forest, particularly in tangles of vines and climbing bamboos at forest edge. Occurs in groups of 4–8 individuals, which may be family parties. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks.

Little known; sibilant “see see see see” contact calls emitted by foraging parties.

Throughout year, with peak in Sept–Dec. Three known nests, two of which were attended each by three adults. Nest domed, with hooded side entrance near top, made of fine grasses, cobwebs and strips of palm fronds, lined with finer fibres, placed 5–10 m above ground in vines; one nest was covered on outside with bits of moss and epiphytes, and sited in shrub c. 1·5 m tall growing at top of rocky cliff face above a drop of c. 30 m. Only one clutch known, of 2 eggs; one nest contained 2 chicks, fed by both adults, 38 feeding visits in 1·5 hours. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Common in foothill rainforest. Large-scale clearing of forest represents a potential threat.