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Malurus melanocephalus
This is the smallest of the fairy-wrens, with the male in breeding plumage inmistakable; glossy black with a scarlet saddle, black bill and shortish tail with a squared tip. Adult non-breeding males and immature birds are very similar to the females which are plain warm-brown with a pinkish-brown bill, though males have a black bill. The tail of the females is longer and more pointed. These wrens have no blue in their plumage at all. They are usually in small family groups with mainly brownish birds.
Parkland
Feeding: Red-backed Wrens feed on small insects and arthropods, feeding in small groups among tall grasses and shrubs, sometimes in trees. Breeding: Little is known about their breeding habits. The small dome-shaped nest is well-hidden and placed close to the ground, often in grass tussocks. The nest is made of grasses, bark strips and spiders web, lined with fine grasses and feathers. The eggs are white, splotched and spotted with red-brown marks. The female mainly incubates and broods the young. Both parents feed the nestlings, sometimes
8 Comments
Thanks armadeus.4
Thanks Bob
Aaah...I love these little Fairy-wrens! So much fun trying to photograph them. Wonderful series Mac. Thank you for sharing :)
Brilliant series Mark.
Thanks outsidegirl0
Thanks Neil
gorgeous spotting!
Lovely spotting, Mac. I had no idea we had black wrens. Live and learn :)