Fairywrens of Australia

R. Bruce Richardson

aka the "Gonzo Birder" 

Author of Bestseller - An Australian Birding Year

“I love this book. First, Howard’s photos of one of my very favourite bird families are phenomenal and stunning. Truly some of the best bird photographs I have seen, and I have seen a lot of excellent bird photography. Second, the book is filled with interesting and easy to read information about fairywrens. I thoroughly enjoy it visually, but I will also love using it as a reference tool. I highly recommend it.”

David Stowe

@david_stowe on Instagram 14.2k Followers 

Vibrantly colorful and ridiculously cute, Fairywrens captivate people like no other family of birds. While everyone loves to look at pretty pictures of them, many bird enthusiasts crave to know more about their lives and how to distinguish them in their various plumages.

Shelley Pearson

@shelley_pearson_ on Instagram 107k Followers and on Facebook

“I was eager to review this book by Howard because fairywrens are one of my favourite birds to photograph. Fairywrens are beloved by most people, including bird photographers and everyday individuals. They are fascinating to observe and so colourful. 

This book is packed with a wealth of information, including beautifully presented images of each fairywren species.

Howard covers everything you need to know about each species of fairywren, including identification, behaviour, distribution, and more. 

I love learning all about the birds when I photograph them and often research a bird after I have taken its picture. This book would be my go-to source of information when learning about a fairywren I had just photographed. 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves birds and especially Australia’s stunning fairywrens.”

Learn about the fascinating world of fairywrens 

In Australia we are blessed with ten fairyfwrens from the Malurus genus. This book covers all 10 current recognised species in Australia as of 2024:  

•  Splendid Fairywren   
•  Red-winged Fairywren   
•  Red-backed Fairywren    
•  Purple-backed Fairywren   
•  Purple-crowned Fairywren 
•  White-winged Fairywren    
•  Blue-breasted Fairywren   
•  Variegated Fairywren    
•  Lovely Fairywren    
•  Superb Fairywren    

Chapters are structured as follows for all 10 species:

• Taxonomy
• Size and Specifications
• Plumage Description
• Eclipse and Moulting Phase
• Diet
• Race and Distribution Maps
• ICUN Status
• Breeding and Reproduction
• Anatomy
• Etymology

Identifying Fairywrens

Each of the 10 Australian fairywrens are unique in many ways from their habitat to their diet and nesting. However, because the males change their plumage between breeding and non-breeding seasons, and from juvenile to adult, at times differentiating between the species and sexes can be a challenge for a birder.

5 Questions I am Commonly Asked About Identifying Fairywrens:

1) What are the features to look for in identifying one species of fairywren from another?

2) How can I identify the males in breeding plumage from the males in non-breeding (eclipse) plumage?

3) How can I tell the difference between the males in eclipse and the females?

4) How can I tell a juvenile from an adult bird?

5) How can I identify the males from the females within a species?

While this book aims to educate the reader about all the aspects of the lives of the 10 Australian fairywrens, its primary aim is to help people learn how to accurately identify specific species, sexes and states of plumage. It answers the 5 questions above through detailed descriptions of each species and sex's plumage with detailed tables comparing and contrasting similar looking species (see example sample page here).

BONUS:

For those who want to know every little last aspect of each species, there is even an etymology guide telling you the origins of, and how to pronounce, the scientific names for each species.