Superb Fairy-wren

The Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) is arguably Australia’s most photographed small bird- and it’s easy to see why. The breeding male’s electric blue and black plumage is one of the most vivid colours in the natural world, made all the more striking by the fact that for much of the year he moults into a modest brown, looking almost identical to the females. Found in gardens, parks and scrubby undergrowth across south-eastern Australia, they’re fast, curious and rarely still for long – making them a rewarding but challenging subject for photographers. Despite their delicate appearance, fairy-wrens are socially complex, living in cooperative groups where older offspring help raise the next generation. These photographs capture the Superb Fairy-wren in all its vibrant, restless glory.