Rhipidura habibiei
The Peleng Fantail (Rhipidura habibiei) is a recently described, small passerine bird, a captivating member of the Rhipiduridae family, endemic to the remote Peleng Island in Indonesia. Measuring approximately 14 cm in length, this fantail exhibits a striking plumage characterized by a black head with a prominent white supercilium and a broken white eye-ring, contrasting with its dark olive-brown back and wings. Its tail is blackish, distinctly tipped with white on the outer rectrices, a key ...
Inhabits primary and disturbed lowland tropical forests, typically found from sea level up to elevations of around 600 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects and other arthropods, typically captured through agile aerial hawking or by gleaning from foliage.
The Peleng Fantail is a highly active, diurnal bird, constantly on the move through the forest understory and mid-story. It primarily forages alone or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species feeding flocks, energetically flitting among branches. Its characteristic foraging technique involves...
The Peleng Fantail is strictly endemic to Peleng Island, the largest island within the Banggai Archipelago, located off the eastern coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This incredibly restricted breeding and year-round range means the species is entirely non-migratory, residing within the same small ge...
Vulnerable
- The Peleng Fantail was only formally described in 2020, making it one of the newest avian discoveries in the 21st century. - Its scientific name, *Rhipidura habibiei*, honors B. J. Habibie, the third President of Indonesia, highlighting its significance to the nation. - It is an island endemic,...