Sooty Thicket-Fantail
NameSooty Thicket-Fantail
Common NameSooty Thicket-Fantail
Scientific NameRhipidura threnothorax
FamilyRhipiduridae
Wingspan (cm)21
Length (cm)16.5
Weight (g)12.5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are sooty brown, with a distinct white supercilium. It has a broad white band across the throat, contrasting with a dark breast heavily marked with prominent white spots. The belly is paler, often buffy, and the tail is long and dark brown.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include soft, high-pitched whistles and rapid, chattering calls, often given while foraging.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to New Guinea and some nearby islands, including Yapen and the Aru Islands, where it inhabits lowland and hill forests.
Identifying Featureswhite supercilium, broad white throat band, dark breast with white spots, sooty brown plumage, long fanned tail
Description
A small, dark fantail found in the undergrowth of New Guinea's forests. It is characterized by its sooty brown plumage, a prominent white throat band, and a dark breast adorned with white spots. It actively forages for insects, often fanning its long tail.
