Lovely fairywren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lovely fairywren |
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The lovely fairywren (scientific name: Malurus amabilis), also called the lovely wren, is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. You can only find this special bird in northeastern Australia. It lives in warm, wet forests and dry forests.
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About the Lovely Fairywren
The lovely fairywren was first officially described in 1852. A scientist named John Gould gave it its name. He studied a bird found by Captain Owen Stanley in Cape York Peninsula, Australia.
The name amabilis comes from Latin. It means "lovable." This bird is one of eleven types of fairywrens in the Malurus group. These birds live in Australia and parts of New Guinea.
The lovely fairywren is part of a group called "chestnut-shouldered fairywrens." There are four very similar species in this group. The others are the variegated fairywren, red-winged fairywren, and blue-breasted fairywren.
Scientists studied the DNA of these birds in 2011. They found that the lovely fairywren is closely related to the purple-backed fairywren.
What Does the Lovely Fairywren Look Like?
Like other fairywrens, the lovely fairywren looks very different depending on if it's a male or a female. This is called sexual dimorphism.
Male Fairywren
Male lovely fairywrens are very colorful, especially when they are ready to find a mate. They have bright, shiny blue and chestnut colors. These colors stand out against black and grey-brown parts.
Their bright blue crown (top of the head) and ear tufts (feathers near the ears) are very noticeable. These are important when they try to attract a female. The male has bright azure blue ear feathers, a blue crown, and a blue upper back.
He also has a black throat and neck, with chestnut-colored shoulders. His tail is blue with white tips. The wings are black, and his belly is white.
Female Fairywren
Female lovely fairywrens are not as brightly colored as the males. They have smoky blue upper parts and a blue tail. Their ear tufts are turquoise.
Their wings are dark grey, and their underside is white.
Bills, Eyes, and Feet
Both male and female lovely fairywrens have black bills. Their eyes are brown, and their feet are flesh-grey. Young birds look like females, but their bills are brown.
