Emperor Fairywren Malurus cyanocephalus Scientific name definitions

13–16 cm; 12–17 g. The largest fairy-wren. Male nominate race (all seasons) has crown light metallic royal blue, forehead, lores and side of head to narrow collar black (no contrastingly coloured ear-tufts); upper back, scapulars and uppertail-coverts deep turquoise-blue, lower back blue-black; upper­wing and tail blackish with blue tinges; throat and underparts deep navy-blue; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey-brown. Female has head much as male, upperparts chestnut, tail black with broad white tips, throat deep blue, underparts white; eyes and bill as male, legs mid-brown. Immature is basically like female, but with head dusky black, upperparts rusty-brown, entire undersurface white; young male passes through a female-like plumage before attaining full adult plumage. Races differ only in depth of coloration: mysorensis is like nominate but has crown light cobalt-blue, female with darker blue crown; bonapartii is somewhat darker than others.

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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.

Dense secondary growth at edges of forest, also forest openings, riversides, roadsides and overgrown gardens.

Resident. One male was caught 12 times in 8 years, all captures within 100 m of each other, and with three different females in succession.

Arthropods; eats beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), moths (Lepidoptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and spiders (Araneae). Items gleaned from leaves, palm fronds and branches, generally within 1 m of ground. Forages noisily in family parties; not known to join mixed-species flocks.

Song a reel preceded and followed by sets of 3 notes, frequently given by group while foraging. Contact call “tst-tst-tst-tst”; “tschik” as alarm.

Little known. Juveniles recorded Mar–Dec, suggesting breeding in all months of year. Socially monogamous but probably sexually promiscuous (as congeners); remains paired throughout year. Co-operative breeder, frequently with helpers, usually progeny from previous years; generally in pairs or small groups, e.g. four males and one female attending recently fledged young. Only one nest found, gourd-shaped with side entrance, made from strips of fern and leaves woven together with pieces of moss, placed 1 m from ground in a bush; contained 4 young. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Not uncommon. Three groups located within area of 25 ha. Appears to like disturbed conditions.