Fairy Wren

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stevehapp
stevehapp's picture
Fairy Wren

I was just going over some of my old photos and come across this. It sort of threw me a bit.
The closest guess I can come up with is a male Superb fairy-wren still in the process of moulting.
Note the blue in the tail feathers and around the eye.
I am confubbled.
Do you know what this is, please?

soakes
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Confubbling indeed. I would say it is not a fairy wren because the tail looks too delicate and not dark enough.

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

stevehapp
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Thanks Soakes.
.
.
sorry, forgot location: newcastle.

Holly
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I'm thinking maybe a moulting male varigated fairy-wren. The variegated have longer tails than the superbs - and that one looks quite long.

I have seen superbs in various stages of moulting but never a variegated.

stevehapp
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Thanks holly.
.
It sure is a mystery.
.
cheers,
steve

Gelmir
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I agree with Holly. The male Vareigated Fairy-wren has a white tip on it's tail, which can be clearly seen on the smaller of the 2 larger tail feathers, as well as the tail is blue.

Holly
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Ah I didn't know about the tail having a white tip - but it is very distinctive isn't it!

stevehapp
stevehapp's picture

Thanks gelmir,
I did not notice that.
awesome, dood :)

Gelmir
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You can thank Denis for that little bit of info which he did a really nice write-up on the plummage differences between the breeds and sexes. I think all of us have been stumped by this issue at one point of another.

DenisWilson
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Gosh, Gelmir, you have a good memory.
Thanks.
Denis

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