Fauna Owen Springs ReserveOwen Springs Reserve Birds Australian Hobby Black Kite Brown Falcon Brown Goshawk Galah Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Splendid Fairy-wren

The small Brilliant blue Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens) is hard to miss, found mainly in semi-arid and arid regions of Australia. It is the male of the species that have the brilliant blue colouration, especially during the breeding season.

Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens), Owen Springs Reserve, NT
Male Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens) about to sing, Owen Springs Reserve, NT

The non-breeding males, juveniles and females of the species are predominantly grey, brown upper and buff to white underneath. The males display a blue wash on their wings and tail, whilst the female a pale red line running from beak to eye. The splendid fairy-wren has a long tail and grows to about 13 cm.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Suborder: Passeri
  • Informal: Passerida
  • Family: Maluridae
  • Subfamily: Malurinae
  • Genus: Malurus
  • Subgenus: infrageneric Malurus
  • Species: Malurus splendens
  • Subspecies:
    • Malurus (Malurus) splendens emmottorum Schodde & Mason, 1999
    • Malurus (Malurus) splendens melanotus Gould, 1841
    • Malurus (Malurus) splendens musgravi Mathews, 1922
    • Malurus (Malurus) splendens splendens (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)

Fauna Owen Springs ReserveOwen Springs Reserve Birds Australian Hobby Black Kite Brown Falcon Brown Goshawk Galah Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Splendid Fairy-wren

Owen Springs ReserveAttractions Redbank Waterhole Fauna Flora