Red -backed Fairy-wren , Malurus melanocephalus , Variegated Fairy-wren , M . lamberti
What do they look like ? Small birds about 10 cm long with long tails which they hold upright . Adult males are brightly coloured : Red-backed Fairy-wren – black with a bright red back ; Variegated Fairy-wren – blue and black head with red patch on shoulders . Females and some males are brown and difficult to tell apart .
Where do they live ? Red-backed and Variegated Fairy-wrens are common across the region in open forests and woodlands . Between them , these fairy-wrens cover most of the Australian mainland . They live in thick shrub and grass cover .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? Fairy-wrens live in small parties and are absolutely dependant on dense , diverse vegetation for cover , feeding and breeding . They are weak fliers over long distances . They are insectivorous , usually moving through shrubs and grasses gleaning caterpillars , spiders and other small invertebrates while constantly making high-pitched contact calls to stay in touch with their flock . The nest is a very small ball of woven grass in thick vegetation , usually less than a metre off the ground . Currant Bush ( Carissa spp .) is a particular favourite for nesting .
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? High-pitched , reeling call is the most common sign , especially mid-morning . Usually seen fleetingly as they move between areas of cover .
What management actions affect this species ? Overgrazing , introduced grass monocultures , clearing , wildfire and introduced weed infestations ( especially Rubber Vine ) threaten fairy-wrens because the density and diversity of the shrub and grass layer is very important to them . Maintaining a patchwork of different grazing and fire regimes on your property and some areas where fire and grazing is absent will help to maintain fairy-wren populations .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Because they feed on insects , especially caterpillars and moths , fairy-wrens form part of that invaluable group of birds which help keep insect numbers in check .
Similar species . White-winged Fairy-wren ( Malurus leucopterus ) is found in more arid areas and Lovely Fairy-wren ( Malurus amabilis ) lives in wet tropics areas .
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