The smallest of their species, some might say they are the cutest. I would say with their striking combination of red and black, they are the most stunning.

Meet the Red-backed fairy wren

The red-backed fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus), is a species of passerine bird in the Maluridae family of Australasian wrens. The male of the species is most striking in the breeding season, with black upperparts and tail, and a brightly colored red back and brown wings.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Gillow / CC BY 2.0

Some males remain in non-breeding plumage while breeding.

The female has brownish upperparts and paler underparts.

Native to Australia this bird is found in the north of the continent, from northern Western Australia to Queensland and east of the Great Dividing range down to north-eastern New South Wales.

These birds are found mainly in tropical grasslands, preferring habitats with tall grass like blady grass. Arable land is also a favorite.

Red-backed fairywren is a mainly insectivorous bird, eating various insects, such as weevils and other beetles, bugs, grasshoppers, moths, wasps, and cicadas. They also eat insect eggs and larvae, spiders and seeds as well as other plant material.

Breeding between August and February these birds are largely monogamous, though some males will mate with up to several females. Some pairs even have helpers working alongside them to raise their young. The nest is a spherical structure, mainly built by the female, consisting of dry grass and hairs, concealed in tussock grass. There she will lay up to 4 eggs with reddish-brown spots which she will incubate for 2 weeks. Both parents help raise the chicks which are fully-fledged in about 11-12 days.

Having a large breeding range the population of this species is thought to be stable with no evidence of substantial declines or threats.

Watch and listen to this bird right here below: