birding...

Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti © Ian Montgomery http://birdway.com.au There are just 28 species in this family; they are: Wallace's Fairywren Sipodotus wallacii Broad-billed Fairywren Malurus grayi Campbell's Fairywren Malurus campbelli Emperor Fairywren Malurus cyanocephalus Lovely Fairywren Malurus amabilis Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti Blue-breasted Fairywren Malurus pulcherrimus Red-winged Fairywren Malurus elegans Superb Fairywren Malurus cyaneus Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens Purple-crowned Fairywren Malurus coronatus White-shouldered Fairywren Malurus alboscapulatus Red-backed Fairywren Malurus melanocephalus White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus Orange-crowned Fairywren Clytomyias insignis Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Stipiturus ruficeps Grey Grasswren Amytornis barbatus Black Grasswren Amytornis housei White-throated Grasswren Amytornis woodwardi Carpentarian Grasswren Amytornis dorotheae Short-tailed Grasswren Amytornis merrotsyi Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus Eyrean Grasswren Amytornis goyderi Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis Dusky Grasswren Amytornis purnelli Kalkadoon Grasswren Amytornis ballarae

family links

Fairywrens & Allies Maluridae http://listoiseauxmonde.multimania.com/Malurid.html List of 30 taxa (in French) Fairywrens & Allies Maluridae http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/fairywrens.html The Fairywrens & Grasswrens are an Australasian family comprised of 14 fairywrens (three genera but 12 are in Malurus); three emu-wrens (Stipiturus); and 8 grasswrens (Amytornis). Each of of them is an absolutely great little bird. Most are active, cock-tailed, territorial, non-migratory foliage-gleaning wrens; many have brilliant plumage patterns (they are not closely related to Holarctic wrens at all). Five species are malurids are found only in New Guinea and adjacent islands, but twenty are restricted to Australia...

species links

Lovely Fairy-wren Malurus amabilis http://www.birdwatching-australia.com/lovely_fairy.htm Image + Lovely Fairy-wrens are co-operative breeders. Genetic studies of superb and splendid fairy-wrens have revealed the shocking fact that a high proportion of the young are not dad`s. It appears that, from time to time, mum entertains the neighbouring males, mating with up to six different ones in addition to her regular partner... Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/2970/wren.htm Image + The red-backed fairy-wren, Malurus melanocephalus (family Maluridae); is an attractive small black wren with a bright red back. It is common in central Cape York Peninsula woodland, especially near water."

numbers

Number of bird species: 28

useful reading

Fairy-Wrens and Grasswrens

other links

Endangered Emu-wren

artists

Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus - John Gould