Enicurus immaculatus
The Black-backed Forktail (Enicurus immaculatus) is a striking passerine bird of Asian mountain streams, instantly recognizable by its bold black and white plumage and perpetually wagging, deeply forked tail. Measuring approximately 22-26 cm in length, with its impressive tail contributing up to 14 cm, and weighing between 25-35g, it presents a sleek and agile form. Its upperparts, including the head, back, and central tail feathers, are a glossy blue-black, starkly contrasting with its pure ...
Found primarily along swift-flowing mountain rivers and rocky streams in subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, typically at elevations between 300 to 1800 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on aquatic insects and their larvae, primarily foraging by gleaning from rocks and darting into shallow water.
Black-backed Forktails are diurnal and largely solitary or found in pairs, exhibiting a constant, rhythmic tail-wagging motion, a signature behavior of the genus. They are highly territorial, defending specific stretches of stream. Foraging involves hopping nimbly over wet, moss-covered rocks and...
The Black-backed Forktail is a resident species distributed across a wide band of subtropical and tropical Asia. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends from the eastern Himalayas, including Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya), eastward th...
Least Concern
- The Black-backed Forktail's long, forked tail is constantly wagging up and down, a distinguishing behavior among birds. - They are expert at navigating swift currents, often perching on slippery, algae-covered rocks in the middle of torrents. - Their nests are often strategically placed in rock...