The Fairywrens of Australia
A Comprehensive Guide
All ten Australian species. More than 160 photographs. An invitation to understand the birds that have captured our hearts.
“I was eager to review this book by Howard because fairywrens are one of my favourite birds to photograph. Fairywrens are beloved by most people, including bird photographers and everyday individuals. They are fascinating to observe and so colourful. This book is packed with a wealth of information, including beautifully presented images of each fairywren species. Howard covers everything you need to know about each species of fairywren, including identification, behaviour, distribution, and more. I love learning all about the birds when I photograph them and often research a bird after I have taken its picture. This book would be my go-to source of information when learning about a fairywren I had just photographed. I recommend this book to anyone who loves birds and especially Australia’s stunning fairywrens.”
Shelley Pearson
Bird photographer
Australians have long been enchanted by the dazzling colours and lively personalities of fairywrens. These tiny birds have captured our attention in gardens, parks and forests across the country. Yet for all their charm, much of their remarkable private lives are hidden.
Lavishly illustrated with over 160 stunning photographs, The Fairywrens of Australia showcases fairywrens as never before: every species, every plumage phase, and both sexes presented in vivid detail. Alongside these portraits are practical identification tables and explanations of behaviour, diet, breeding, habitat and distribution.
Dedicated to all ten Australian fairywren species and drawing on decades of ornithological study, this book is both a visual delight and an indispensable field reference. A true celebration of Australia's most beloved small birds and an invitation to discover their world anew.
"A visual delight and an indispensable field reference."
A Window into their world.
Sample pages from the book. Colours on screen may differ slightly from the printed edition.
Know the bird. See the difference.
Discover the details that distinguish species, sexes and changing plumage. Explore the world behind each photograph.
Identification & plumage
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour, diet & breeding
Names & natural history
Identification tables
Vibrantly colorful and ridiculously cute, Fairywrens captivate people like no other family of birds. While everyone loves to look at pretty pictures of them, many bird enthusiasts crave to know more about their lives and how to distinguish them in their various plumages. Howard Loosemore's "The Fairywrens of Australia - A Comprehensive Guide" satisfies all our curiosities. Howard combines stunning images of all the Australian Fairywren species in their different plumage stages with incredibly informative text. The book offers comparisons between species, identification tips, and enlightening facts about their breeding and distribution. If you are interested in Fairywrens, you will not be disappointed!
David Stowe
Bird photographer
Part art book, part field guide. Built to live on the coffee table and in the backpack.
For those who look a little closer.
"
“I love this book. First, Howard’s photos of one of my very favourite bird families are phenomenal and stunning. Truly some of the best bird photographs I have seen, and I have seen a lot of excellent bird photography. Second, the book is filled with interesting and easy to read information about fairywrens. I thoroughly enjoy it visually, but I will also love using it as a reference tool. I highly recommend it.”
The late - R. Bruce Richardson
Author of An Australian Birding Year
"
"An impressive visual testament to one of Australia’s most-loved bird families. Think of your bird guide as the teaser trailer to this full-length feature that dives into the lives of fairywrens, with information on everything from diets to plumage changes across seasons. Howard’s work as a wildlife photographer serves the reader well with numerous top-tier photos of each species present in each chapter. Birders across Australia will be well-served by this publication."
Joe Welkin
The Fairywren Project
Inside the pages
A clear structure that moves from the family as a whole to detailed accounts of every species.
Introduction to fairywren identification and plumage
Red-winged Fairywren
M. elegansPurple-crowned Fairywren
M. coronatusBlue-breasted Fairywren
M. pulcherrimusSplendid Fairywren
M. splendensPurple-backed Fairywren
M. assimilisSuperb Fairywren
M. cyaneusVariegated Fairywren
M. lambertiRed-backed Fairywren
M. melanocephalusWhite-winged Fairywren
M. leucopterusLovely Fairywren
M. amabilisDifferentiating between Fairywrens
Howard Loosemore
Howard Loosemore is an Australian secondary school commerce teacher and an award winning bird photographer. With over two and a half decades in education and more than fifteen years behind the lens, his bird photography has been recognised in major competitions including Australia's BirdLife Photography Awards and the international Bird Photographer of the Year.
He is known for his distinctive style of bird portraiture, combining striking feather detail and natural soft bokeh. Passionate about native Western Australian flora and fauna, he has dedicated much of his life to sharing his love of the natural world.
Order Your Copy HereBook Details
| Title | The Fairywrens of Australia |
| Author | Howard Loosemore |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 163 |
| Photographs | 160+ |
| Publisher | UWA Publishing |
| Distributor | Simon & Schuster Australia |
| Release | 10 November 2026 |
