Splendid Fairywren

Malurus splendens

Nannup, SW WA IMG_8516 20181021 - splendens male breeding plumage. CLICK for another the next day.

Notes: Small w. a long blue tail. Females similar across range: lores & eye-patch a little paler than
rufous bill. Non-breeding male similar w. black bill, some blue in folded wings. Breeding males:
nominate ssp splendens bright violet-blue ground colour to head & body; musgravi lighter blue
upperparts, black rump, violet tinge to gorget; melanotus darker crown than musgravi, whitish
belly; emmottorum paler version of melanotus. Ranges forest to dry scrub. Eats insects, seeds.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart©(modified)
Nannup, SW WA IMG_8763 20181022 - splendens female. CLICK for another: Cheynes Beach, Albany, SW WA 20181102 Nannup, SW WA IMG_8804 20181022 - splendens male breeding plumage. CLICK for one in partial breeding plumage. Glen Helen Gorge, Namatijira Drive, W of Alice Springs, S NT IMG_0608 20160620 - musgravi male breeding plumage
(lighter blue upperparts than splendens, black rump). CLICK for another showing violet tinge to gorget: Mt Ive Station, S SA 20181128. Glen Helen Gorge, Namatijira Drive, W of Alice Springs, S NT IMG_0668 20160620 - musgravi adult female.
CLICK for juvenile: yellow gape, pale lores & eye-patch, short tail. Mambray Creek, Mt Remarkable NP, NE SA IMG_5196 20181202 - melanotus male breeding plumage. Darker crown than
musgravi. CLICK for another view showing whitish belly, black back like musgravi. Bowra Sanctuary, Cunnamulla, S Qld IMG_0837 20161012 - melanotus female. CLICK for non-breeding male: Pheeney's Track,
Murray-Sunset NP, W Vic 20190514. Noonbah Station, SW Qld IMG_4580 20200912 - emmottorum male breeding plumage. CLICK for another view. Noonbah Station, SW Qld IMG_4603 20200912 - emmottorum female. Nannup, SW WA MVI_8795+8700 20181022 - splendens male breeding plumage Mt Chudalup, SW WA MVI_8984 20181023 - splendens male breeding plumage Eulo Bore, Paroo, S Qld MVI_7146 20180623 - melanotos male breeding plumage