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yarrowee river - grey fantails are everywhere

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Grey Fantail - they're everywhere along the river.

Scientific Name: Rhipidura albiscapa

Description: The Grey Fantail is most easily recognised by its constantly fanned tail and agile aerial twists and turns. Both sexes are similar in appearance: grey above, with white eyebrow, throat and tail edges. This species is quite inquisitive and will closely approach an observer.

Similar species: Willie Wagtail, Rufous Fantail

Distribution: The Grey Fantail is found throughout Australia.

Habitat: The Grey Fantail is found in most treed habitats.

Seasonal movements: Appears to undergo a partial northern migration during winter.

Feeding: The Grey Fantail feeds on flying insects, which it catches by chasing them from the edge of foliage at all levels in the canopy.

Breeding: The Grey Fantail builds its nest in a thin tree-fork, unusually between 2 and 5 metres 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.

The nest of the Grey Fantail has a long tapering stem that resembles a wine-glass.

Calls: Ascending, tinkling, whistles and squeaks.

Minimum Size: 14cm

Maximum Size: 16cm

Average size: 15cm

Average weight: 9g

Breeding season: July to January

Clutch Size: 2 to 3

Incubation: 14 days

Nestling Period: 21 days

(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)

 

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© Chris Burns 2024

 

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Uploaded on January 27, 2024
Taken on January 16, 2024