From Opus

Rhipidura leucophrys

Photo by Neil
Photo taken: Sydney, Australia.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Distribution

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Habitat

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID