Chestnut-naped forktail
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Enicurus ruficapillus

The chestnut-naped forktail (Enicurus ruficapillus ) is a species of bird in the flycatcher and chat family Muscicapidae. The species is monotypic, having no subspecies. It is found in Sundaland, in southern Burma and Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sumatra and Borneo. The species is not migratory.

Appearance

The chestnut-naped forktail is 18 to 20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) long and weighs 27 g (0.95 oz). The head of the male is chestnut-coloured, with a white forehead and black mask in front of the eye. The wings are black with a white wing-bar. The breast is white with black barring, fading towards the white belly. The rump is white and the tail is black with white stripes and a white tip. The female is the same as the male except the back and mantle is chestnut. The chestnut-naped forktail calls in flight, either a single of three whistles.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

The species is found along clear rivers and streams in lowland and hill rainforest. It can also be found in secondary scrub, dry ridges, and along logging roads. It is found from sea-level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft), except in southern Thailand, where it only reaches 900 m (3,000 ft).

Habits and Lifestyle

Chestnut-naped forktails forage near water, eating a range of insects including earwigs, beetles, ants and caterpillars. They have also been recorded eating snakes. The nest is a cup of plant fibres, lined with leaf skeletons and decorated on the outside with moss. The nest is fixed with mud to a boulder or bank. The clutch size is 2 eggs, which are white or pale pink and marked with reddish-brown speckles and purple undermarkings. This species is a host to brush cuckoos.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

Population number

It is threatened by habitat loss, as lowland forest is rapidly being cleared across its range. It is expected to remain in hill habitat, and is classed as near threatened.

References

1. Chestnut-naped forktail Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut-naped_forktail
2. Chestnut-naped forktail on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22710129/94235569
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/290309

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About