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21

Arafura Fantail

(Rhipidura dryas)
Alternate name(s): "Wood Fantail"
Size: 16 cm; wing span 21 cm
Weight: 7-10 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Arafura Fantail at Wikipedia .

Click here for classification information

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, December 2019]

Frontal view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fannie Bay, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2018]

Near-frontal view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mary River Wilderness Retreat, NT, July 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2013]

Lateral view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2018]

Lateral view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, December 2019]

Lateral view of an Arafura Fantail, with its tail fanned characteristically (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of an Arafura Fantail (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Sewage Treatment Plant, Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Near-dorsal view of an Arafura Fantail, with its tail fanned characteristically (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, May 2018]

Ventral view of an Arafura Fantail; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 11 June 2018
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Behaviour

Arafura Fantails "earn their name" by fanning their tail frequently, with a display of the extended white tips on both undertail and uppertail.

Frontal view of an Arafura Fantail fanning its tail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an Arafura Fantail fanning its tail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of an Arafura Fantail showing that even when the tail is folded the display of white is impressive
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

arafant_pb_20180606_1.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact calls(?) © PB
arafant_pb_20180606_2.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact calls(?) © PB
arafant_pb_20210521.m4a (Top End, NT) Contact calls(?) long sequence © PB
arafant_pb_20230509_2.mp3 (Top End, NT) Contact calls(?), adult + immature © PB
arafant_pb_20230509.mp3 (Top End, NT) Territorial call(?) © PB
arafant_pb_20201014.m4a (Top End, NT) Territorial calls(?) © PB
arafant_pb_20180611.m4a (Top End, NT) Warning calls(?) © PB
arafant_pb_20180619.m4a (Top End, NT) Various © PB

More Arafura Fantail sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.