It is very difficult to capture this bird, because is so fast and never more then one second seats on the branch without flying around . The Gray Fantail is most easily recognised by its constantly fanned tail and agile aerial twists and turns. It's a small bird around 15cm, both sexes are similar in appearance, grey above, with white eyebrow, throat and tail edges. This species is quite inquisitive and will closely approach to the observer.
Similar species to Gray Fantail are Willie Wagtail, also described in this blog, and Rufous Fantail.
The Gray Fantail is found throughout Australia in most treed habitats and appears undergo a partial northern migration during winter. The birds occasionally visits densely planted urban gardens, particularly during the winter migration. Often makes use of eucalypt trees. Feeds on flying insects, which it catches by chasing them from the edge of foliage at all levels in the canopy.
Its nest is build in a thin tree-fork, unusually between 2 and 5 meters from the ground. It is made of fine grass bound together with large amounts of spider web. The bottom of the nest is drawn out into a long stem, resembling that of a wine-glass. Both parents share nest-building, incubation of the eggs and feeding of the young when they hatch.
Photo Jozef Skubin
1,2,3,4 Cannington river, Canning regional park W.A.
References
Field guide to Australian birds.
Field guide to birds of Australia, 6th Edition
The Robins and flycatchers of Australia
No comments:
Post a Comment