White-throated Fantail

Overview

The white-throated fantail (Rhipidura albicollis) is a small passerine bird found across tropical southern Asia. It was previously considered to include the white-spotted fantail as a subspecies.

Identification

• Approximately 19 cm long with a dark, fan-shaped tail edged in white.
• Features a white supercilium and throat, though plumage varies significantly between races.
• Most resemble the Himalayan race, which is primarily slate grey above and below with a black eye mask.

Habitat

It inhabits forests, scrub, and cultivation areas. Its range spans tropical southern Asia, extending from the Himalayas, India, and Bangladesh eastward to Indonesia.

Diet

This species is insectivorous and often fans its tail as it moves through the undergrowth while foraging.

Did you know?

Birds use the same song year after year with progressively small changes, resulting in a song that sounds very different after four to five years.