Superb Fairy-Wren

Superb Fairy-Wren (female) is an original acrylic painting by Mike Robles. The image is based on reference photographs found on the Internet. (source is wikipedia).
This 9x12” painting was done using artist quality Atelier Interactive acrylic paints on a gessoed archival canvas panel. The painting was finished using two coats of Gamvar Picture Varnish.
The superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), also known as the superb blue-wren, or colloquially as the blue wren, is common and familiar across southeastern Australia. The male in breeding plumage has a striking bright blue forehead, ear coverts, mantle, and tail, with a black mask and black or dark blue throat. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles are predominantly grey-brown in color. It is only 5 ½ inches long and almost half of its length is its tail. Like other fairy-wrens, the superb fairy-wren is notable for several peculiar behavioral characteristics; the birds are socially monogamous and sexually promiscuous, meaning that although they form pairs between one male and one female, each partner will mate with other individuals and even assist in raising the young from such pairings. Male wrens pluck yellow petals and display them to females as part of a courtship display.
The superb fairy-wren can be found in almost any area that has at least a little dense undergrowth for shelter, including grasslands with scattered shrubs, moderately thick forest, woodland, heaths, and domestic gardens. It has adapted well to the urban environment and is common in suburban Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. The superb fairy-wren eats mostly insects and supplements its diet with seeds.