Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens Scientific name definitions

11·5–13·5 cm; 8–11 g. Male nominate race in Bright plumage has crown, back, scapulars, throat and most of ventral surface rich violet-blue, ear-tufts sky-blue, black lores and stripe through eye to black hindcollar; tail cobalt-blue; primaries edged turquoise; black pectoral band 3–5 mm deep; iris dark brown; bill black, legs slaty-brown to black. Female has crown, back and wings grey-brown, lores and feathers around eye rufous, tail distinctively dark bluish-turquoise, throat and underparts whitish; eyes dark brown, bill orange-brown, legs pinkish-brown to dark brownish-grey. Male in Dull plumage is like female, but has tail cobalt-blue, primaries edged turquoise, bill and legs black. Immature resembles female; in first winter, male acquires turquoise primaries and bill, and lores darken. Races differ mainly in darkness of blue and depth of pectoral band of Bright-plumaged male: callainus is paler than nominate, has light sky-blue crown and mantle with broad black band over lower back, pale sky-blue ear-tufts, deep violet-blue throat, black breastband 3–6 mm deep; melanotus differs from previous in having blue areas mid-blue, with violet cast on crown, mantle and throat, black pectoral band 1–3 mm deep, white mid-belly; emmottorum is smaller and shorter-tailed than others, Bright male has throat pale sky-blue, black breastband 2–4 mm deep, white mid-belly.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Shrubland and other dense vegetation, varying from eucalypt (Eucalyptus) woodland-heath in SW of range to mulga-mallee in C & E semi-arid and arid areas. Nominate race in SW of range is replaced by M. elegans in forest and by M. pulcherrimus in heathland.

Primarily insects, mainly ants (Formicidae), small beetles (Coleoptera), grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera), and bugs (Hemiptera); also some other arthropods, e.g. spiders (Araneae) and centipedes (Chilopoda). Some plant material taken occasionally. Insects gathered by hop and search, with occasional “tower flight” in pursuit of swarming termites (Isoptera); sometimes forages for insects in canopy of flowering eucalypts. Lives in groups of 2–8 adults.

Song a reel typical of genus, with a series of loud trills introduced by softer, simpler elements, reel louder and harsher than those of “chestnut-shouldered group” and “bicoloured group”; variant, given in presence of potential predator, includes a string of notes of a different type added at end of reel. Contact call a single, soft “trrt”; alarm a sharp “tsit”; also a churring threat directed at intruders, including cuckoos (Cuculidae).

Aug–Jan; lays up to four clutches in a season and may rear more than one brood. Socially monogamous, remaining paired throughout year, but sexually promiscuous; female seeks extra-group matings but returns to nest in group territory (in studies, more than 66% of young in a brood fathered by male/males from outside group). Co-operative breeder, frequently with helpers, usually progeny from previous years. Nest built by female, an oval domed structure with side entrance near top, made of grass, lined with fur and feathers, placed 30–250 cm above ground in shrub. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually 3, laid at daily intervals; incubation by female, period normally 14–15 days (12–17); chicks fed by all members of group, nestling period 10–13 days; fledglings fed by all group-members, remain concealed for a week, independent at c. 40 days; young stay with parents, may help feed young of later brood, males usually stay in natal group as helpers for at least a year, females more likely to disperse. Nests parasitized by Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites basalis). Male sexually mature at 1 year.