Rhipidura melanolaema
The Santa Cruz Fantail, *Rhipidura melanolaema*, is a small, hyperactive passerine bird endemic to the Santa Cruz Islands, part of the Solomon Islands. Measuring approximately 14-16 cm in length and weighing a mere 8-10 grams, its most striking feature is its long, often cocked and fanned tail, which is constantly in motion. Distinctive field marks include dark sooty-grey upperparts, a prominent white supercilium (eyebrow stripe), a broad black throat patch that gives the species its scientif...
This species primarily inhabits humid lowland and montane primary and secondary forest, as well as forest edges and overgrown gardens, typically found from sea level up to at least 1000 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of small insects, including flies, moths, beetles, and spiders, which it primarily catches in flight through aerial hawking or gleans from vegetation.
The Santa Cruz Fantail is a ceaselessly active, diurnal bird, rarely pausing in its quest for food. Its foraging strategy is a classic 'flush-pursuit' technique: it makes rapid, darting flights and constantly fans its tail and flicks its wings to disturb insects, which it then snatches in mid-air...
The Santa Cruz Fantail is strictly endemic to the Santa Cruz Islands, a group within the Solomon Islands archipelago. Its primary distribution includes the main island of Nendö (also known as Ndende or Ndeni), as well as Utupua, Vanikoro, and potentially some smaller surrounding islets like Anuta...
Near Threatened
- The scientific name *melanolaema* is derived from Greek, meaning 'black-throated,' a key identifying feature of this fantail. - This fantail is one of the most hyperactive birds in its habitat, rarely staying still for more than a few seconds. - Its distinctive tail-fanning technique is not jus...