- Rhipidura phasiana
Identification
15-16cm Adult:
- Pale Buff brow-line
- Crown down to tail pale slate grey
- Large, fanned tail
- Broad white tip on outer four pairs of Tail Feathers
- Tail feathers have White-shafts, edges narrowly tipped white
- Fine throat bar
- White Wing-bars
- Buff underbelly.
Distribution
Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. In Australia ranges from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Coastal South-east New Guinea, and Aru Island.
Taxonomy
Previously considered a Race of Grey Fantail, but now considered unique species, on grounds of Voice, Morphology, Clutch-size and Habitat. Monotypic
Habitat
Mangrove forest, both tall and stunted, forages over mudflats, Occasionally wanders to nearby scrub.
Behaviour
Breeding
September to February forms the breeding season, Builds nest in Mangroves, 1-4m above high tide mark, normally on a slender fork. Nest practically inseparable of that of Grey Fantail, Tiny cup of plant fiber which is heavily bound with spider-web and tapers to a long, slender tail. Inside lined with soft fiber. Clutch 2-3, Eggs 16x13mm
Diet
Small insects, hunts by fluttering around Mangrove Trees, and low across Mud and Pools, untill finding a small insect.
Voice
Contact call is an abrupt tek, tek. Song a series of short squeaks. Distinctly different from similar Grey Fantail.
