Text Box:            The Right Beginning                                         Splendid Blue Wren                                         (Malurus splendid's)                                                                                                     By B.Robinson Your first glimpse of a cock bird, Splendid wren in full eclipse plumage is a sight your not likely to forget in a hurry. The Splendid wren is not only one of the most stunning softbills, it is also by far the best species of softbills for a beginner, and in fact is the recommended species for beginners. It must be said that if you want to keep Splendid wrens, you may have to compromise on other species of birds that you may keep or may want to keep in the future. The Splendid wren in most cases is very aggressive, particularly in breeding plumage and can attack and kill a wide variety of other birds particularly finches and other Softbills.( although I have mixed Splendid wrens with other Softbills in the past). As a general rule Splendid wrens should be kept on there own. The Splendid wren would have to be one of if not the easiest and hardiest Softbills currently kept in captivity as it will adapt to a wide variety of conditions. Aviary: Splendid wrens can be kept in relatively smaller aviaries and by that I mean (20ft x 10ft), although I am aware of a breeder who kept and bred Splendid's in an aviary (10ft x 10ft) this is however not the desirable sized aviary to keep any Softbills in. You can use a variety of different plant species including most native shrubs and some native creepers (if you use creepers, do not plant them where they can get hold of your wire) some of the plants recommended are: Melaleuca - armillaris, capitata, hypericifolia, bracteata, erubescens. Callistemon - comboynensis, formosus, phoeniceus, linearis, salignus, subulatus, viminalis.                                                                                              continued next page,        

 

All articles are the Property of S.G.W.A and are therefore subject to Copy Right - NO unauthorized use permitted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Softbill Group of WA December 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Softbill Group of WA December 2001

 

 

 

 

Text Box:   Grevillea - glabrata, hilliana, boongala spinebill, bonnie prince charlie, coconut ice, fasciculata, dimorpha, honey gem, lavandulacea, robyn gordon. Geraldton wax - uncinatum ( 20 different species). Hardenbergia (creeper) - violacea, comptoniana, ( 4 species) There are many other types of plants you can use, provided they do not grow two tall and they have dense foliage. I would also recommend packing, tee tree, or similar in the shelter area, as this makes great nesting sites out of the weather. Food: Splendid wrens will eat almost any type of insect in fact if it flies, hops or crawls they will probably eat it. As a guide most of if not all of the following list should be offered, Mealworms, White ants, Fly pupae, *Moths, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Flying ants, Weevils, Fruit fly, Beetles, Grubs. You can breed your own Mealworms, Fly pupae, Grasshoppers & Crickets or you can purchase through dealers the rest can be collected locally or attracted to your aviaries using lights, rotting fruit, manure, leaf litter, ect.The most important rule for keeping this species or any softbill in captivity is " Food must be supplied in abundance" . I cannot emphasise this enough as this is crucial to not only keeping these birds but to breeding them. The diet should also be supplied daily and if your birds won't take to the diet, try mixing in white ants you can use a damp rolled up news paper to separate the ants from the mound. *In a future edition we will explain how to attract moths to your aviaries and how to make a moth trap. Brett.                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Softbill Group of WA December 2001

S.G.W.A (c) Softbill Group of Wa(c) 2000-2004

Text Box: Female: Head, forehead crown and nape dull grey-brown, ear coverts dull grey-fawn, chin and throat dull white, lores and ring around eye dull chestnut. Back, dull grey-brown. Underparts, dull grey-fawn. Wings, dull brown. Tail, dull grey-blue. Bill, chestnut-brown. Legs, brown. Iris, dark-brown Immature: Similar to adult female Variation: None Voice: Song, shrill high reeling trill. Calls, single harsh alarm Note, also an abrupt "scrip". Habitat: Dense bushes and cover in almost any type of woodland. Breeding: September - January Nest, in bush usually within a metre of the ground. Rather untidy oval structure with circular entrance at side. Constructed of dry grasses lined with feathers Text Box: Eggs: Three or four, white spotted with redish-brown, particularly at the larger end, 17 x 14 mm. Food: Insects and other small arthropods. Habits: Common, sedentary, mainly terrestrial, gregarious - usually in small groups or family parties. incubation period thirteen to sixteen days, nestling period twelve to fourteen days, males help feed the young but take no part in nest building or incubation. Endemic species (or subspecies). Hybridises probably with M.callainus in WA.   Text Box: Other Names: Banded wren, Mormon Wren. Length: 140mm. Description: Male: Head, crown and forehead, chin and throat bright violet-blue, ear coverts bright cobalt-blue, remainder black. Back, bright violet blue Underparts, bright violet blue, with narrow black band across upper breast. wings, dull, outer vanes of feathers strongly washed blue. Tail, dull violet-blue. Bill, black. Legs, brown to black. Iris, brown. Winter, similar to adult female but bill black, wings blue, no chestnut around eye.  

 

 

Text Box:                 Species Profile                                         Splendid Blue wren                                         (Malurus Splendens)