Grey Fantail

Overview

The grey fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa) is a small, insectivorous bird found in Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. It is a common species with no sexual dimorphism and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Mid-to-dark grey or grey-brown above, lighter yellowish or orange below, with a white throat and white markings over the eye.
• Grows to 16 cm in length, with the tail constituting half the total length; outer tail feathers are white or white-edged while centre ones are dark.
• Bill and legs are not described in the reference material.
• Call is described as an almost metallic 'cheek', often repeated as a chattering.

Habitat

Found in eucalypt forest, rainforest, mangroves, heath, and wooded habitats. The species ranges across Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia, with southeastern Australian and Tasmanian populations being migratory.

Diet

Feeds on flying insects, which it catches using intricate acrobatic chases. The bird forages by flitting constantly from perch to perch, including on the ground and tree twigs, and often catches insects disturbed by human activities.

Did you know?

Grey fantails commonly build more than one nest before laying eggs, with up to seven recorded in a single breeding season; these decoy nests are believed to be used to confuse predators like pied currawongs.