Variegated Fairy-wrens are quite common in my neck of the woods, but they’re very difficult to photograph. They move fast, pause only briefly, and prefer to keep hidden in the shrubbery. I took these shots over a few days, collecting mosquito bites at the same time as usable photos.

It’s spring, and the males are decked out in their breeding finery. They’re like blue fireflies lighting up the bush:

The long tail often sticks straight up. It must present quite a challenge to dashing around the shrubbery:

The females are a soft brown with pale blue hints in the tail. They have a red eye mask which can make them look slightly sardonic:

They’re like tiny little puffballs:

Like many bird names in Australia, the name “fairy-wren” is misleading. These birds aren’t actually wrens. They’re related to honeyeaters and pardalotes.

Common name: Variegated Fairy-wren
Scientific name: Malurus lamberti
Approximate length: 13 cm
Date spotted: September 2021 (spring)
Location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’49.9″S 151°15’04.2″E (the male) and 33°46’20.8″S 151°14’30.6″E (the female)