Alternative names: Matthias Fantail; Mussau Rufous Fantail
- Rhipidura matthiae
Identification
15 cm.
- Black head with large white patch over crown and broad white malar stripe
- Rich reddish-rufous upperparts
- Black breast, brown flanks, white lower abdomen
Sexes similar. Immatures have a dark brown nape and breast and the abdomen suffused with chestnut-red.
Distribution
Endemic to Mussau Island in St Matthias Group (Bismarck Archipelago), Papua New Guinea.
A restricted-range species, fairly common on Mussau (400 km²), obviously able to tolerate degraded habitat. However most of the island has been logged or is under logging concessions, a potential threat to the species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Forms a superspecies with Bismarck Fantail, Rufous-backed Fantail and Malaita Fantail.
Habitat
Found in forest.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects. Forages low down, often in gaps and clearings. Begging juveniles recorded in July, no other information available.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Mussau Fantail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mussau_Fantail
