Rhipidura rufidorsa
The Rufous-backed Fantail (Rhipidura rufidorsa) is a diminutive, highly active passerine, measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length and weighing around 7-10 grams. Its distinctive plumage features a rich rufous back, rump, and uppertail coverts, contrasting sharply with its dark sooty-brown head, wings, and central tail feathers. A prominent white throat and a fine white supercilium or loral spot often stand out, while its belly is typically whitish to pale rufous. This species is readily id...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of lowland rainforests, hill forests, and monsoon forests, often found in secondary growth and forest edges. It typically occurs from sea level up to elevations of about 1,000 meters, occasionally ranging higher.
Primarily insectivorous, the Rufous-backed Fantail feeds almost exclusively on small flying insects, including flies, beetles, and moths, captured through agile aerial hawking and gleaning from vegetation.
The Rufous-backed Fantail is a perpetually active diurnal bird, rarely remaining still for more than a few seconds, constantly flitting and twisting through the forest undergrowth. Its foraging strategy is classic fantail: it makes rapid aerial sallies to snatch insects in flight or gleans them f...
The Rufous-backed Fantail is widely distributed throughout the island of New Guinea, including both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Its range also extends to several associated islands, including the Aru Islands, Yapen, Biak, and t...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-backed Fantail's tail is almost constantly fanned and wagged, an adaptation thought to disturb insects, making them easier to catch. - Despite its small size, it is an extremely agile flier, capable of intricate aerial maneuvers within dense forest undergrowth. - Its distinctive 'tai...