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~Superb Fairy Wren~


~Superb Fairy Wren~
Photo Information
Copyright: Debbie Linkevics (deblink) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 307 W: 6 N: 363] (1258)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi, Canon Ef 90-300mm 1:4.5-5.6
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Fairy-wrens [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-29 19:00
Viewed: 4917
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I finally caught an image of this bird, I have been trying for so long, it is very difficult. They flit around so fast but this one just happened to land in a tree just in front of me at the Mt Barker Wetlands.

Superb Fairy-wren
Scientific name: Malurus cyaneus
Family: Maluridae
Order: Passeriformes

Facts and figures
Research Species: Yes
Minimum size: 13 cm
Maximum size: 14 cm
Average size: 14 cm
Average weight: 10 g
Clutch size: 3 to 4

Description
Adult male Superb Fairy-wrens are among the most brightly coloured of the species, especially during the breeding season. They have rich blue and black plumage above and on the throat. The belly is grey-white and the bill is black. Females and young birds are mostly brown above with a dull red-orange area around the eye and a brown bill. Females have a pale greenish gloss, absent in young birds, on the otherwise brown tail. The legs are brown in both sexes. Males from further inland and in the south-west of the range have more blue on the back and underparts.

Distribution
Superb Fairy-wrens are found south of the Tropic of Capricorn through eastern Australia and Tasmania to the south-eastern corner of South Australia.

Habitat
Seen in most habitat types where suitable dense cover and low shrubs occur. They are common in urban parks and gardens, and can be seen in small social groups. These groups normally consist of one male and several females and young birds.

Feeding
Superb Fairy-wrens feed on insects and other small arthropods. These are caught mostly on the ground, but may also be taken from low bushes. Feeding takes place in small social groups.

Breeding
The nest is a dome-shaped structure of grasses and other fine material. It is usually placed in a low bush and is constructed by the female. The female incubates the eggs alone, but both sexes feed the young. Other members of the group will also help with the feeding of the young.

References
Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 5 (Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. 1997. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Schodde, R. and Tideman, S.C. (eds) 1990. Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds (2nd Edition). Reader's Digest (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sydney.
Serventy, V.N. (ed) 1982. The Wrens and Warblers of Australia. Angus and Robertson and the Australian Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=3

Cheers,
Debbie
pankajbajpai, JoseMiguel, Janice, JPlumb, Argus, eBirdy, snowfalken, gypsygirl58, Necipp, Ken52, gracious has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Ken52: Hi Kendeblink 1 08-05 17:42
To snowfalken: Thank youdeblink 1 07-31 19:03
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Debbie,
I know exactly what does it means to be in the quest of a difficult bird!
But I see you caught it with great success!
I like so much all the sharp details got on their beauty plumage, and its rounded like shape.
It's also very good the composition made and the nicely blurred background.
Well done and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 586 W: 12 N: 1682] (6165)
  • [2007-07-29 21:50]

Hello Debbie,
Wonderful shot, thanks for trying so hard because now we can appreciate this lovely bird, what a beauty! I praise you
Fantastic POV and composition.. Very well done

Everton.

Belle photo de cet oiseau, petite boule de plumes avec une longue queue, très mignon et très jolies couleurs avec ce bleue claire sur sa tete, sur les joues et a l' arrière de la tete,vraiment joli et bien pris. Amitiés Thomas

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2007-07-30 1:05]

What a cute tiny bundle of feathers Debbie. Some of these little birds are not easy to catch. And what pretty head feathers he has. Well done
Janice

Not an easy species to shoot, you've done quite wel for winter image.
Well composed with good sharpness.
Perhaps a little to centred in the frame, a bit more room on the right would have been optimal (in my opinion anyway).

Chris

Hi Debbie, great shot of a difficult bird. I haven't seen one of these guys yet so I'll keep my eyes open. You've captured great colour on this one with very good detail. The composition works well along with your depth of field; he is very nicely isolated from his background, but it is still apparent.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-07-30 8:23]

Hello Debbie,
I tried to get a good shot of a Fairy Wren when we were in NSW but failed, the best being blurry parts of the bird. So you did a good job capturing this Superb Fairy Wren. This is sharp and the dark exposure favours the irridescent blue parts very well.
Well done and TFS!
Regards, Ivan

Hello Debbie , very well composed photo , good sharpness and colors , TFS .

hello debbie,
nice capture of this cute little bird, well composed shot with nice pov, lovely colours, i can see the shine in the eyes,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Debbie,

It's great to see you finally managed to take a picture of the Fairy Wren! The long wait was worth it since this is a very beautiful species.

Composition:

Sometimes it's difficult to compose a shot especially when the subject is only available for a second or so. You managed to compose the image pretty well leaving plenty of empty space in front of the bird. I also like the fact that the branch is crossing the picture along the lower third. The only thing I would change is the position of the bird in the center of the frame. I probably would have cropped from the left side to avoid this. Although a bit busy, the background is blurred enough to isolate the Wren. I love the pose of the bird and the great eye-contact. Well done!

Colors:

The colors look natural and saturation is well adjusted.

Contrast:

I find the contrast rather strong. This is especially visible in the dark areas where the details might have been lost. The strong sunlight might have been responsible for this.

Exposure:

In spite of the fact that the subject is difficult to expose correctly especially in strong light, you managed a pretty good exposure. Most of the details were preserved (only in the shadows there are small underexposed areas) and you also captured great catchlights in the bird's eye. I wonder if the flash would have helped but you definitely didn't have the time to make camera adjustments before the bird flew off.

Focus:

Very good focus on the subject keeping the bird and branch sharp while everything in the background is blurred.

A good post of a difficult bird with great notes. Thanks for posting on TN!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

Hi Debbie,
Really well caught bird!
I am not familiar with it so I suppose it is an "australian" inhabitant... So, this makes this post twice interesting! TFS, Marta

Hi Deb,
Great capture of this lovely Wren! They are hard to photo aren't they! Excellent sharpness and details in the plumage and lovely natural colours. Well done and TFS
Cheers Tina :-)

Hello debbie I have a lot of trouble getting still shots of wrens and i think you did a fine job here nice focus amazing colours and one I've never seen before good pov and pose. Well composed on this perfect perch. tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • edal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 374 W: 48 N: 413] (1853)
  • [2007-08-02 20:01]

Hello Debbie!
It's a magnifficently detailed capture of this tiny cuttie! A presentation to be remebered!
Anton

Hi Debbie,
A really good shot on this Superb Fairy Wren. What a cute and colorful little fellow. Nice exposure has the colors and detail in the plumage looking great. Nice OOF backround shows him perfectly.
Scott

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 93 N: 1243] (4195)
  • [2007-08-05 17:35]
  • [+]

Hi Debbie,
I guess if you stay in the field often enough, you get chances like this sooner or later. Great management of exposure in the mixed light. Good color saturation and nice detail. Outstanding job giving the background a nice blur so that subject stands out better. I would try to crop so that subject is not a near to center, but objects in background may have prevented that. Nice choice of frame.
Regards,
Ken

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-06 19:33]

Hello Debbie

A very cute bird well captured.The colours and plumage detail are very good.Well focused with excellent details.The POV and DOF are very good.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-08-10 0:43]

Hi Debbie

I would love to even see a fairy wren that wasn't just a blur - so very well done getting a shot of one!

James

Hello Debbie,
Excellent captured of this cute and beautiful bird in the best pov!
I loved the soft-toned colour from the exposure and focus!
very sharp indeed
well done, Debbie!
cheers
Tony

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