Animalia Life
Rhipidura hypoxantha
TAXONOMY
Rhipidura hypoxantha Blyth, 1843, Darjeeling, India.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Yellow-bellied fantail flycatcher; French: Rhipidure а
ventre jaune; German: Goldbauch-Fдcherschwanz; Spanish:
Cola de Abanico de Vientre Amarillo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
4.5–4.9 in (11.5–12.5 cm); 0.2 oz (5–6 g). Yellow forehead,
brow, and underparts; upperparts are olive-gray. Black mask
and long, white-tipped gray tail. Female’s mask is dark olive in
color.
DISTRIBUTION
Northern India, southeastern Tibet, southwestern China,
Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, northern Bangladesh, northern Myanmar,
northern Thailand, and northern Vietnam. Occurs at
4,950–12,210 ft (1,500–3,700 m), locally down to 594 ft (180
m) in winter.
HABITAT
Can be found in various kinds of forest and secondary jungle
but prefers moist evergreen forest. In the breeding season, occurs
mostly in mixed coniferous and birch or rhododendron
forests.
BEHAVIOR
This is a very active and restless bird. It is constantly in motion,
flicking its wings and fanning its tail. While foraging, it
continually utters a high, thin “sip sip.”
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on small flying insects caught in the air. Often found in
mixed-species feeding flocks.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds in Apr.–Jul. The nest is a compact deep cup, attached
to the upperside of a branch, 10–20 ft (3–6 m) above ground.
The clutch consists of three cream to pinkish-cream eggs with
tiny dark reddish speckles, which usually form a ring around
the larger end.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.