Superb Fairywren

13-14 cm. Well-loved 'blue wren' of se. Aust. Male: blue cap and back; blue-black throat and chest; grey-white underparts; tail dark blue. Male eclipse: slightly darker olive-brown above than female; bill black; no red-brown around eye; tail deep blue. Female: mouse-brown; throat/breast whitish; underparts washed fawn; bill, lores and eye-ring red-brown; tail brown, washed greenish blue. Immature: like female, with plain brown tail; young males acquire blackish bill and blue tail before first winter, richer olive-brown upperparts, then coloured plumage during first breeding season. Pairs, family parties: moves briskly through thickets; hop-searches over short grass; sings briskly from tops of shrubs, thickets, fences.