Male splendid fairywren on a branch
“the breeding male is distinctive with a bright blue forehead and ear coverts, a violet throat, and deeper rich blue back wings, chest, and tail with a black bill, eye band, and chest band. The blue breeding plumage of the male is often referred to as nuptial plumage. The non-breeding male is brown with blue in the wings and a bluish tail. The female resembles the non-breeding male but has a chestnut bill and eye-patch.[23] Immature males moult into breeding plumage the first breeding season after hatching, though this may be incomplete with residual brownish plumage and may take another year or two to perfect. Breeding males' blue plumage, particularly the ear coverts, is highly iridescent due to the flattened and twisted surface of the barbules.[27] The blue plumage also reflects ultraviolet light strongly, so may be even more prominent to other fairywrens,” - Wiki
Male splendid fairywren on a branch with a female splendid fairywren
“the breeding male is distinctive with a bright blue forehead and ear coverts, a violet throat, and deeper rich blue back wings, chest, and tail with a black bill, eye band, and chest band. The blue breeding plumage of the male is often referred to as nuptial plumage. The non-breeding male is brown with blue in the wings and a bluish tail. The female resembles the non-breeding male but has a chestnut bill and eye-patch.[23] Immature males moult into breeding plumage the first breeding season after hatching, though this may be incomplete with residual brownish plumage and may take another year or two to perfect. Breeding males' blue plumage, particularly the ear coverts, is highly iridescent due to the flattened and twisted surface of the barbules.[27] The blue plumage also reflects ultraviolet light strongly, so may be even more prominent to other
Male splendid fairywren on a branch with cheeks puffed out and up like circular discs
“the breeding male is distinctive with a bright blue forehead and ear coverts, a violet throat, and deeper rich blue back wings, chest, and tail with a black bill, eye band, and chest band. The blue breeding plumage of the male is often referred to as nuptial plumage. The non-breeding male is brown with blue in the wings and a bluish tail. The female resembles the non-breeding male but has a chestnut bill and eye-patch.[23] Immature males moult into breeding plumage the first breeding season after hatching, though this may be incomplete with residual brownish plumage and may take another year or two to perfect. Breeding males' blue plumage, particularly the ear coverts, is highly iridescent due to the flattened and twisted surface of the barbules.[27] The blue plumage also reflects ultraviolet light strongly, so may be even more prominent to other
Male splendid fairywren in molting stage
“the breeding male is distinctive with a bright blue forehead and ear coverts, a violet throat, and deeper rich blue back wings, chest, and tail with a black bill, eye band, and chest band. The blue breeding plumage of the male is often referred to as nuptial plumage. The non-breeding male is brown with blue in the wings and a bluish tail. The female resembles the non-breeding male but has a chestnut bill and eye-patch.[23] Immature males moult into breeding plumage the first breeding season after hatching, though this may be incomplete with residual brownish plumage and may take another year or two to perfect. Breeding males' blue plumage, particularly the ear coverts, is highly iridescent due to the flattened and twisted surface of the barbules.[27] The blue plumage also reflects ultraviolet light strongly, so may be even more prominent to other
bird of the day: the splendid fairywren