Rhipidura leucothorax
The White-bellied Thicket Fantail (*Rhipidura leucothorax*) is a striking and energetic passerine, measuring approximately 13-16 cm in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams. Its most distinctive field mark is the stark contrast between its glossy blackish-brown upperparts and a brilliant, pure white belly, often accentuated by a prominent white supercilium and a white throat patch. The long, often fanned tail is blackish with white outer tail feathers, a characteristic of many fantails. Taxo...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and lower canopy of lowland and hill primary and secondary forests, as well as forest edges and dense scrub. It can be found from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters in elevation, occasionally higher.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of small invertebrates, including flies, beetles, moths, caterpillars, ants, and spiders, which it captures primarily through acrobatic aerial pursuits and gleaning from vegetation.
The White-bellied Thicket Fantail is a perpetually active bird, renowned for its almost ceaseless movement and characteristic fanning of its tail. It typically forages by sallying out from a perch to catch insects in mid-air or gleaning them from foliage, often dropping to the ground for prey or ...
The White-bellied Thicket Fantail is endemic to the island of New Guinea, where it is widely distributed across both Indonesian West Papua (Western New Guinea) and Papua New Guinea. Its range extends throughout the lowlands and foothills, from the Vogelkop Peninsula in the west to the southeaster...
Least Concern
- The White-bellied Thicket Fantail's constant tail fanning is believed to startle hidden insects from foliage, flushing them out for easier capture. - Despite its small size, it is incredibly agile, performing complex aerial maneuvers and even hovering to snatch insects mid-flight. - Unlike many...