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Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens : Maluridae (Bird Families of the World, number 4)

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This book provides an overview of some of Australia's and Papua New Guinea's most intriguing and beautiful little birds. Fairy-wrens have fascinated ornithologists and lay-people alike from early European settlement in Australia. And rightly so. The males are strikingly coloured in deep blues, brilliant cobalts, daring reds and purples. They have a lovely, far-reaching song, well-known to many Australian with a suburban garden. Their social system is intricate and fascinating, living in small social groups of varying complexity. Plus the fariry-wrens are the least faithful of all birds, with females routinely cuckolding their social partners. Emu-wrens and grass-wrens are somewhat more modest in their appearance, and more elusive to the uninitiated bird watcher. But the beauty of the emu-wrens lies in the detail of their feathered tail, whereas the grasswrens are the most cryptic of them all. This book is a delight, well written by Australia's two leading - and most sympathetic - wren-biologists, providing a plethora of interesting facts presented in an appealing style that can captivate experts and interested lay-people alike. The plates by Peter Marsack are delightful, accurate and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the essence and beauty of these wonderful birds.