Photo of Animalia: Splendid Fairy-wren (species: Malurus (Malurus) splendens)

Male Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus (Malurus) splendens), Bourke, NSW, Australia

© David Cook

This little guy was showing off to all of the girls, with his ear tufts extended. Cute! There are 3 sub-species of Splendid Fairy-wren in Australia - this is M.s.melanotus which is found throughout western NSW and south-west Queensland in suitable habitat. We found this one and his harem just in the scrub at a rest area north of Bourke.

Photo taken on 27 Jun 2010