Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Red-backed fairywren

Red-backed fairywren

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/January 3, 2018 by Jimfbleak - talk to me?  15:29, 9 December 2017 (UTC)



The red-backed fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) is a species of passerine bird in the family Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia and can be found near rivers and coastal areas along the northern and eastern coastlines from the Kimberley in the northwest to the Hunter Region in New South Wales. The male adopts a striking breeding plumage, with a black head and upperparts and tail, and brightly coloured red back and brown wings. The female has brownish upperparts and paler underparts. The male in eclipse plumage and the juvenile resemble the female. Some males remain in non-breeding plumage while breeding. It mainly eats insects, and supplements its diet with seed and small fruit. The preferred habitat is heathland and savannah, particularly where low shrubs and tall grasses provide cover. It can be nomadic in areas where there are frequent bushfires, although pairs or small groups of birds maintain and defend territories year-round in other parts of its range. Groups consist of a socially monogamous pair with one or more helper birds who assist in raising the young. These helpers are progeny that have attained sexual maturity yet remain with the family group for one or more years after fledging. The red-backed fairywren is sexually promiscuous, and each partner may mate with other individuals and even assist in raising the young from such pairings. As part of a courtship display, the male wren plucks red petals from flowers and displays them to females.
 * Most recent similar article(s): yellowhammer, December 5, 2017
 * Main editors: Casliber
 * Promoted: June 24, 2008
 * Reasons for nomination: nice picture...also trying to clear out User:Dweller/Featured Articles that haven't been on Main Page...
 * Support as nominator. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 22:49, 9 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Support: science article looks to be in good shape. Praemonitus (talk) 16:46, 1 December 2017 (UTC)