Visayan fantail
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Visayan fantail (Rhipidura albiventris) is a fantail endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Negros, Panay, Guimaras, Masbate and Ticao. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the blue-headed fantail and the Tablas fantail.
| Visayan fantail | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Rhipiduridae |
| Genus: | Rhipidura |
| Species: | R. albiventris |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhipidura albiventris (Sharpe, 1877) | |
Description and taxonomy
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of forest . Dull blue on the head, chest, back, and shoulder, with some paler blue streaking on the chest and crown. Has a white belly and a rufous lower back, outer tail feathers, and wing, with dark central tail feathers and a dark edge to the wing. Often cocks and fans tail while foraging. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has rufous rump and tail. Voice is a single, nasal 'jep' note given at intervals or sped up into a rapid series."[2]
It is differentiated from the blue-headed fantail and Tablas fantail with its white belly and generally lighter coloration.
Ecology and behavior
The diet of the Mindanao blue fantail consists of insects. It is often observed in mixed flocks with other birds such as Black-naped monarch, Flame-templed babbler, White-vented whistler, Lemon-throated leaf warbler, sunbirds and flowerpeckers.
Breeding has been recorded from February to May. Nest is cup shaped and is relatively open.Lays 2 eggs.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
Its habitat is in tropical moist primary and secondary forest and forest edge both in the lowlands to montane areas up to 1,800 meters above sea level.[4]
IUCN has assessed this bird as a least-concern species. However, it is said to be already extinct on Guimaras and possibly extinct on Masbate and Ticao Island owing to massive deforestation on those islands.[5]