What sort of Wren?

9 posts / 0 new
Last post
Aussie Kate
Aussie Kate's picture
What sort of Wren?

This wren was seen on a scrub property between Mannun and Walker Flat  in South Australia, and i was wondering if anybody can help me out with what Species this is.

clif2
clif2's picture

My guess would be a Female Superb Fairy-wren,  but I can't tell from the photo whether the tail has a blue tinge to it and if it did then it could be another kind.

Regards

               Shane

Woko
Woko's picture

Hi redmankate. I'm confident this is a female variegated fairy-wren.

Windhover
Windhover's picture

The eye markings indicate female Variegated to me as well.

clif2
clif2's picture

Woko, I am wondering how you can tell from the photo that it is a Variegated FW as in the book I have it shows that it should have a blue tinge to the tail, whereas the Superb has a brownish tail. Is it the eyes and lores being darker on the VFW and more buff on the SFW that makes IDing more positive. The reason I ask is I have a lot of photos of the female Wrens and don't seem to get there ID right particularly between the VFW and the SFW.

Regards

               Shane

Headsie
Headsie's picture

I have some shots of the Variegated female, they do have a blue tinge to the tail but as the last shot shows if the light is against you it can be hard to see.

I'm not making a call on this one but just offering a Variegated female to help.

Woko
Woko's picture

It's the dark patch around the eye that's the key indicator, clif. Also, the variegated fairy-wren is more likely to be seen in the mallee country between Mannum & Walker Flat than the superb fairy-wren.  

clif2
clif2's picture

Thanks Headsie and Woko, I can see now that the Female VFW has a much darker and richer lore colour whereas the SFW has a more pale colouring in the lores, thanks for clearing this up for me.

Regards

               Shane

Aussie Kate
Aussie Kate's picture

Thanks all for your help. smiley

 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube