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Markus Lagerqvist | profile | all galleries >> Birds of the World >> Oscine Passerines >> Australasian Wrens tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

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Australasian Wrens

The Australasian Wrens (Maluridae) are a family of 28 species of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Commonly known as wrens, they are unrelated to the true wrens of the Northern Hemisphere. The family includes 15 species of fairywren, 3 emu-wrens, and 10 grasswrens.

Australasian Wrens are small to medium birds, inhabiting a wide range of environments, from rainforest to desert, although most species inhabit grassland or scrub. The grasswrens are well camouflaged with black and brown patterns, but other species often have brilliantly coloured plumage, especially in the males.

Fairywrens are notable for several peculiar behavioral characteristics. They are socially monogamous and sexually promiscuous, meaning that although they form pairs between one male and one female, each partner will mate with other individuals and even assist in raising the young from such pairings. Males of several species pluck petals of conspicuous colors and display them to females for reasons unknown.

The song of fairywrens is pleasant and complex, and at least two species (Superb and Splendid) possess, in addition to the alarm calls common to - and universally understood by - most small birds, another vocalization used when confronted by predators. This, termed "Type II Vocalization", is song-like and used when confronted by calling butcherbirds, and sometimes other predatory birds. Its purpose is, however, unknown; it is certainly not a warning call.
White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus)
White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus)