Australian Splendid Fairy Wren Artwork – “Rather Splendid”

Description

No native Australian bird that captures the hearts of birdwatchers and nature-lovers as much as the Australian Splendid Fairy Wren. This original artwork by Helen Ansell – ”Rather Splendid” is a celebration of the Australian Splendid Fairy Wren!

A Message From The Artist

“Whilst visiting friends I spotted a flash of bright blue outside their window. It was an Australian Splendid Fairy Wren! I grabbed my phone for a shot but he was jumping and darting about so quickly that he was impossible to capture. The next afternoon I was hooked, sitting outside under the trees, quietly waiting in the hope of his return.

It is common to see a bright blue male Fairy Wren surrounded by his brown family and I presumed they were a bit like a harem. Actually, juvenile male wrens start off brown as young birds so the group I saw could have been young Fairy Wrens. The male Splendid Wren sheds his bright blue feathers in the year, sporting his best coat during mating season – a real catch!

It was such fun to paint this piece and I hope it brings you as much joy as it does to me.” Helen Ansell

About The Splendid Fairy Wren

The Splendid Fairy Wren (Malurus Splendens) belongs to the Australasian wren family. They inhabit arid and semi-arid regions; adult males exhibiting a high degree of breeding plumage. The female Splendid Fairy Wren and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown in colour. They form pairs between one male and one female. Although each partner will mate with other individuals and even assist in raising the young from such trysts.

Their habitat ranges from forest to dry scrub, generally with ample vegetation for shelter, while mainly eating insects, supplemented with seeds. Both sexes moult in autumn after breeding, with males assuming an eclipse non-breeding plumage. They will moult again into nuptial plumage in winter or spring. The traditional Australian Splendid Fairy Wren group consists of a socially monogamous pair. Male wrens pluck pink or purple petals and display them to females as part of a courtship display.

This fine art Australian painting also includes Red Bottlebrush (Callistemon) which is endemic to Australia. This beautiful native Australian plant is naturally found in more temperate scattered locations, but widely cultivated in many other regions. Its common name arose from the cylindrical brush like flowers’ resemblance to a traditional bottle brush.

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