Stats

Lifespan: 12-15 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Pair
Biome: Open woodland
Range: Australia and New Guinea
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Speed
Status: Common

About

A bold, energetic fantail native to Australia and nearby islands, instantly recognised by its jet-black upperparts and crisp white underparts. It constantly fans and wags its long tail from side to side while foraging — a behaviour so distinctive it gave the bird its common name.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small clutch of speckled eggs is incubated in a cup nest, turned and kept warm by the parent.
2.
hatchling
A pink, blind hatchling is fed by its parents in the nest, gaping its bill at every visit.
3.
juvenile
A feathered juvenile fledges from the nest, learning to fly and to forage close to its parents.
4.
adult
Fully grown with adult plumage and song.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Rhipiduridae
Genus: Rhipidura
Species: Rhipidura leucophrys