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21

Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa [fuliginosa]) Alternate name(s): "White-shafted Fantail", "White-shafted Flycatcher", "Snapper", "Mad Fan", "Cranky Fan", "Devil-bird", "Land Wagtail" Aboriginal name(s): Race "albicauda": "koodjinok", "yadoort", "kedjat" (WA) Size: 14-17 cm Weight: 7-10 g

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Grey Fantails are small fantails. Although the overall appearance of all races is similar, details of the darkness and contrast of their plumage depend on race. Race "alisteri" (which is found in the most populous parts of Australia and therefore likely to be seen by most observers) has, apart from two small white spots on the frons and two small white stripes above the ear coverts, a grey head. They have a wide throat patch that extends sideways to under the ear coverts, below which a dark sooty-grey band is found across the upper chest. The rest of the front, from the lower chest to the undertail coverts, is pale-buff to creamy. The back, including the wings, is all-grey, except for two narrow white wing bars and thin white outer edges on the flight feathers. The long tail, which is often fanned, has two dark-grey central feathers and lighter-grey outer feathers, which have white outer edges. Other races have slight colour variations, race "keasti" being the darkest and race "albicauda" being particularly light-coloured. The eyes have dark irises. The slim, straight bill is dark-grey; the legs and feet are grey. Juvenile Grey Fantails have browner colours, with buff-tinged wing bars and head markings. Twitcher's tip Compared with Mangrove Grey Fantails, they have narrower white wing bars and a proportionally smaller bill. Compared with Northern Fantails, they have a narrower chest band and otherwise darker front.

Taxonomy, classification See Grey Fantail at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Due to differences in their calls, the Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa, is by many no longer considered to be conspecific with the New Zealand Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa.

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Grey Fantail is available HERE . The range of the Grey Fantail extends from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to Australia. There are several races of Grey Fantails, of which four are migratory. Their migration patterns are complex and the birds' range during and outside their breeding seasons is very different. For details see a field guide. Only race "keasti", which is found in two areas in the tablelands of central and northern QLD, is sedentary. All others are migratory. Averaged over a whole year and all races, Grey Fantails can possibly be found almost anywhere on the Australian continent, including Tasmania, except the Nullarbor and the north-western Gibson Desert, WA. Generally speaking, during their breeding season they are concentrated in the South-East of the continent, the South-West and an ellipsoidal-shaped area from the South-West of WA through central WA into the southern NT, with both Alice Springs, NT, and Kalgoorlie, WA, near the southern edge of the very elongated ellipse. During the breeding season nominate race "albiscapa" is found only in Tasmania and on other, smaller islands along Bass Strait. During the rest of the year they disperse into the coastal range and the Great Dividing Range of the south-eastern part of the Australian continent. Grey Fantails can be found in open forest and woodland, near breaks or edges of the vegetation where they hunt for insects in open space. They can also be found in farmland with scattered trees.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "albiscapa" B. Hensen reports spotting a Grey Fantail, nominate race "albiscapa", on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. C. Pears found a Grey Fantail, nominate race "albiscapa", at the Hobart Botanical Garden, TAS, in December 2022. Race "alisteri" During the summers of 2003-2006 we occasionally saw Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, hunting insects from low to mid-level perches (e.g. branches of trees acing open terrain). Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", have been seen and heard many times since in ushland at Mt. Kaputar NP, Deriah Aboriginal Area, and other areas in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range near Narrabri. Since 2011 we see Grey Fantails at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri. Outside the breeding season they stay close to the house, while during the breeding season they move to a nearby creek. Since race "alisteri" is migratory, it is possible that we are observing different populations of Grey Fantails in the course of a year. E. Bancroft reports finding a pair of Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", nesting in a garage in Bingara, NSW, in November/December 2012. Grey Fantail, race "alisteri", are also sighted by us regularly on trips to the East of the Great Dividing Range, along the NSW coast. Seen and photographed by C. Kellenberg at Guy Fawkes River NP, NSW, in February 2009. They have also been seen by us in, and have been reported to us by various contributors from, many different locations in southern and central QLD, especially (near-)coastal areas. Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", were spotted by L. Tonnochy 20 km West of Townsville, QLD, in May 2012 and by A. Ross-Taylor at Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, in July 2012. R. Plumtree reports Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", nesting at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in December 2013 and again in November 2015. M. Mearns reports spotting a Grey Fantail, race "alisteri", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", on Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016. M. Eaton found Grey Fantails, race "alisteri", in Robe, SA, in April 2022. Race "keasti" B. Hensen reports spotting Grey Fantails, race "keasti", at Lake Morris, near Cairns, QLD, in July 2013. M. Eaton found Grey Fantails, race "keasti", in Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, in July 2021. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding a Grey Fantail, race "keasti", on Mt. Lewis, near Burtons Ridge, QLD, in February 2020. Race "preissi" C. Pears reports finding Grey Fantails, race "preissi", on a daily basis at Quindalup, WA. J. Greaves reports spotting Grey Fantails, race "preissi", at Loch Mc Ness, Yanchep NP, 55 km North of Perth, WA, in January 2015, and at Manjimup, WA, in March 2015.

Photos

Race "albiscapa"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail; note both the buff front (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail taking a bath; note both the buff front and the reduced white in the tail characteristic of this race (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Race "alisteri"

South QLD/NSW/VIC/SA

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Grey Fantail observing the observer
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, August 2017]

Close-up frontal view of a Grey Fantail looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2022]

Frontal view of a Grey Fantail (characteristically) fanning its tail (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Grey Fantail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Fantail
[Dunn's Swamp, Wollemi NP, NSW, October 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey Fantail looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Robe, SA, April 2022]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Robe, SA, April 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey Fantail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a Grey Fantail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Grey Fantail; note the prominent whiskers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2007]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Fantail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a "Grey No-Fantail"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Fantail "without a head" (seen preening)
[Near Kenebri, NSW, January 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Grey Fantail earning its name by prominently fanning its tail
[Girraween NP, QLD, January 2017]

Grey Fantail on the point of take-off
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Grey Fantail
[Dorrigo NP, NSW, January 2011]

Frontal view of a juvenile Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

Frontal view of a preening juvenile Grey Fantail
[Wingham Brush NR, NSW, January 2011]

Frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Fantail with its tail fanned (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2018]

This juvenile Grey Fantail still has remnant downy chick feathers on its rump and short, still growing wing feathers
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, February 2017]

Three fledgling Grey Fantails waiting to be fed (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Guy Fawkes River NP, NSW, February 2009]

Here the fight for the best place is starting (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Guy Fawkes River NP, NSW, February 2009]

This time the Grey Fantail chick in the middle gets the insect (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Guy Fawkes River NP, NSW, February 2009]

Here another pair of fledgling Grey Fantails; a third sibling was seen in this case too
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, October 2010]

Might as well use the time until the next juicy insect is delivered...
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, October 2010]

North QLD

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Race "keasti"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Frontal/ventral view of a Grey Fantail jiggling its tail
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mt. Lewis, near Burtons Ridge, QLD, February 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lake Morris, near Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lake Morris, near Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail with a pinkish reflection on its belly (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail in shady conditions (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eungella NP, near Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mt. Lewis, near Burtons Ridge, QLD, February 2020]

Race "preissi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Loch McNess, Yanchep NP, near Perth, WA, January 2015]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Loch McNess, Yanchep NP, near Perth, WA, January 2015]

Grey Fantail just after take-off (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Loch McNess, Yanchep NP, near Perth, WA, January 2015]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 16 - 18 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and weather conditions. It can possibly run from May to March.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket with tail

Material: Soft inner bark, spider webs

Height above ground: 1 - 7 m

Recently hatched chick in a Grey Fantail nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2017]

Grey Fantail on its nest, with the usual long, hanging tendrils (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Dandry Gorge AA, NSW, December 2015]

Grey Fantail at its nest, which is lacking the usual long, hanging tendrils (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Grey Fantail nest, which again is lacking the usual long, hanging tendrils; this nest is still under construction
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

One of the Grey Fantails sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

Here both owners of the Grey Fantail nest are visible; one is just delivering new material (lining or cobwebs for binding)
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

Grey Fantail working on its nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Killarney SCA, NSW, November 2020]

Additional information

There is a separate page describing the process of a Grey Fantail gluing its nest with spider webs.

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 16 x 13 mm

Colour: Creamy, with mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Grey Fantail nest with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of E. Bancroft)
[Bingara, NSW, December 2012]

Grey Fantail sitting on its nest incubating the eggs (photo courtesy of E. Bancroft)
[Bingara, NSW, December 2012]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive/migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

If any bird deserves the description as being hyperactive, this is the one. They hardly sit still long enough for a photo exposure. They live in dense young cypress pine growth in the bush; so far we have not seen a Grey Fantail out in open farmland.

It appears that food competition between Rufous Fantails and Grey Fantails is insignificant, given that they have been found nesting right next to each other contemporaneously (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[DFA Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey Fantail jumping into the bathtub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2023]

Food, Diet

Like all other members of the Rhipidura family known to us, Grey Fantails are insect hunters.

This lateral view of the head of a Grey Fantail indicates that it has got its whiskers either wet or sticky; since the photo was taken on a dry day, the fluid cannot be dew
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

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.

greyfan_20190816.m4a	alisteri (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
greyfan_20190816_2.m4a	alisteri (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
greyfan_20230726_4.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Annoyed	© MD
greyfan_20200805.m4a	alisteri (NW NSW)	Warning/upset	© MD
greyfan_20230726_5.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Hunting insects	© MD
greyfan_20230726_3.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Hunting insects	© MD
greyfan_20230521.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Various (arrival at bird bath)	© MD
greyfan_20180920.m4a	alisteri (NW NSW)	?	© MD

We have also been able to record Grey Fantail wingbeats.

greyfan_20230726_2.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Hunting insects	© MD
greyfan_20230521_1.mp3	alisteri (NW NSW)	Arrival at bird bath	© MD

More Grey 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 8 September 2023, 8:48 +00:00