From Opus

Rhipidura leucophrys

Photo by Neil
Photo taken: Sydney, Australia.

Identification

19-21.5cm. Black head, throat, upper breast, wings, upperparts, and tail, white eyebrow, 'whiskers' and underparts. Black bill and legs, dark brown iris. Sexes similar.

Distribution

Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and eastern Indonesia].

Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognised:

• leucophrys - central and southern Australia

• picata - northern Australia

• melaleuca - New Guinea and islands in its vicinity.

It is unrelated to the true wagtails of the genus Motacilla.

Habitat

Semi-open woodland or grassland with scattered trees, often near wetlands or bodies of water.

Behaviour

The diet includes insects.

It builds a cup-like nest on a tree branch from grass stems, strips of bark, and other fibres, bound together with spider webs. 2-4 cream-white eggs with brownish markings are laid and incubated by the female for 14 days. The young fledge after a further 14 days.

External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID