Once in a while I see something so beautiful, so precious that it keeps me smiling for a long time.
Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) – male with yellow petal
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
I was sitting in the paddock when I spotted this fairy-wren in the distance, the yellow petal flashed brightly. I was rapt to see it 20 metres away so you can imagine my smile when it flew closer and paused for a second or two, just long enough to take this image.
Several years ago I saw a male fairy-wren with a yellow petal and discovered that it’s part of the breeding ritual, much like the human equivalent of a dozen red roses. With female fairy-wrens being notoriously promiscuous it seems that the males have evolved to make themselves as attractive as possible. It’s interesting that they choose yellow petals, as yellow and blue are complimentary colours, opposites on the colour wheel, ensuring that the yellow accessory makes his blues look super vibrant.
Females fairy-wrens sneak away for pre-dawn liaisons with males that visit their territories during the breeding season. It seems likely that the males who show up looking irresistibly handsome receive the most visits. For more about the social structure of fairy-wrens, the mating habits of non-breeding/juvenile males (captured on film), and how to tell a juvenile male from a female (apart from which one’s on top!), you could visit Fairies at the bottom of the garden
Happy birding, Kim
Update on the Victorian duck shooting season
Animals Australia’s 2016 Duck Shooting is not a Sport campaign includes a video and billboards of four sporting heroes speaking out against duck shooting. Quotes from the video include:
David Zaharakis (AFL) – “It’s cruel and it’s heartbreaking.”
Peter Siddle (Cricket Australia) – “It’s just a cowards’ act. In duck shooting it’s one man versus a small little creature that’s defenceless.”
Erin Phillips (Opals basketballer) – “It’s mind-blowing that it’s even allowed. Ducks don’t have a voice.”
Sharni Layton (Diamonds netballer) – “The ducks aren’t going to stand there and say, ‘Hey guys, don’t shoot me’.”
Their words inspired me to create this meme:
Grey Teal
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 400
~ Thank you for visiting and commenting
~ If you would like to join subscribers who receive a weekly email letting them know that lirralirra has been updated please use the ‘subscribe’ box above right
beautiful photo Kim
Just found this site as I Googled male wrens with petals.
Interesting comments here.
We have many Superb Fairy Wrens living here and they are so used to me I can get within about 1.5 metres. Its so nice, especially when you can see the youngsters progress
Anyway, on topic – I’ve seen both yellow and red petals in their beaks.
Forsythia – yellow and japonica – red.
I’m just processing a red one now hence my Googling
Hi Robert, thank you! How interesting about the japonica petal and how fabulous to share your home with so many fairywrens. I have japonica here too but have only seen the males with yellow petals. You’ve made me wonder two things: is it more common than I realised that they choose colours other than yellow, and do birds ever experience colour blindness. If you see this reply please let me know where you share your photographs, I’d like to see your red petal shot.
Have just stumbled across this thread after watching a male carrying a tiny pink petal was feeding in our front yard. He arrived with the petal over his beak, dropped it to feed and then went back and collected it again. Absolutely beautiful and we did wonder if he was using it to catch attention.
What a beautiful sight to have seen Emma! Which species of fairywren was it? The Superbs usually use a yellow petal, which is the complementary colour to the male bird’s feathers. It would be interesting to know if a Superb had chosen pink. I wish I’d been beside you with my camera, Kim
Hi Kim
Wow sorry for the late reply! He was a superb fairy wren and interestingly we discovered after this beautiful sighting that we didn’t have any yellow flowers in bloom in our garden at that time. We live in a farm with our own little habitat far away from neighbours. Pink may be the next most contrasting? Also my brother captured a beautiful yellow l flower petal carrying photo today, hence why I revisited this post. Wonder how he can share with you?
How fabulous! Could he send it to my email address or via my fb page? It would be lovely to see.
I know this is an old thread but I have just seen 2 blue wrens a few metres from my window pick yellow petals and offer it to a pair of female wrens. One dear boy pursued the lass around our garden snd put it to her beak. She didnt appear too impressed but it was just so charming to observe.
What a wonderful sight to see Christine! How exciting. It’s likely that there will be a nest somewhere nearby in the coming days/weeks. They nest on the ground so I hope your property is free from roaming cats. Cats are on my mind as I’m writing this week’s post. Thanks for sharing your lovely sighting, Kim
Absolutely adore that wren picture!!!!
I’m glad Sherry 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful shot of the magic of nature.
You’re welcome Michele, thank you for letting me know you like it
I once saw a male SF Wren do that at an old sewerage treatment at Byron Bay. There are also Red-backed Fairy Wren there.
It’s unforgettable isn’t it. I adore fairy-wrens though am yet to get good images of other species, hopefully soon. Byron Bay poo paddocks sound worth a visit 🙂
An exquisite photo of the wren and petal. Just beautiful.
I’m so glad you like it Susan
A magic moment caught beautifully Kim. I can’t believe I took so long to get into bird photography when you see sights like this. I guess I was waiting for digital.
Thank you Neil. That’s exactly how I feel about bird photography too! It’s awesome to capture beautiful moments and to see such exquisite little birds in detail without causing them any stress – I can’t imagine bird photography without digital
That Superb Fairy-wren would melt the hardest heart, and brighten the dullest day.
Thank you.
I long for the day that shooting living things is not considered a sport. So much.
It’s definitely a little heart-melter. I’m hopeful that we are near the end of the shameful era of duck shooting seasons, it would be great if this was the last one in Australia.
Beautiful image Kim
Thank you Diane, I’m glad you like it
Aw it’s so sweet! How lucky to capture such a special moment!
Thanks for always remembering the ducks whose lives are still hanging in limbo!
Oh I’ve just seen this comment Alyssa, as I’ve received a request to use the fairywren/petal image in a university presentation. Sorry for the delay and thank you for your comment!
It’s called furgling. Male Fairy Wrens from a neighbouring territory carrying a flower petal is allowed to have his way with the females.
I’ve not heard that expression before! The males visit the territory of the females who then decide which of the visiting males they’ll visit – I’m sure you’re right about the petal being a big drawcard 🙂 I’ve read numerous studies regarding social interactions among fairy-wrens, if you have others you could recommend please let me know.
I couldn’t work out how to add the information here but you may be interested in this link (google koolbee furgling) which has some information (which I hadn’t seen before) on Furgling.
That’s really interesting Marc, thank you!
beaut shot kim (the fairy wren, not the duck)
Thanks Glenn, I like the duck too 🙂
.
.