Animalia Life
Rhipidura brachyrhyncha
TAXONOMY
Rhipidura brachyrhyncha Schlegel, 1871, Arfak Mountains, New
Guinea. Two subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Dimorphic rufous fantail; French: Rhipidure dimorphe;
German: Zweiphasen-Fдcherschwanz; Spanish: Cola de
Abanico Dimorfo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.9–6.5 in (15–16.5 cm); 0.3–0.4 oz (8.3–10.7 g). Crown to upper
back dark brown, fading to rufous lower back, rump, and
wing edges. Underparts buffy gray with either pale or dark undertail,
depending on color phase. Bill brownish black, feet
pale brown.
DISTRIBUTION
R. b. brachyrhyncha: Northwestern New Guinea; R. b. devisi:
western, central, and eastern New Guinea. Occurs mainly at
6,600–12,144 ft (2,000–3,680 m), as low as 3,828 (1,160 m) and
as high as 12,870 ft (3,900 m).
HABITAT
Lives in mountain forest, particularly stunted moss forest.
BEHAVIOR
A tame and inquisitive bird, usually encountered in pairs,
sometimes singly. Active.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Obtains most of its food by catching flying insects, although it
will also glean items from foliage while hovering. One foraging
technique is to crash through the foliage, catching any flushed
insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nesting habits undescribed.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Dimorphic fantail
