Dimorphic Fantail
Rhipidura brachyrhyncha
A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of montane forest and subalpine shrubs. Dull gray-brown underparts and head with contrasting rufous rump and dark wings. Two forms occur. One with a gray brown tail, the other with a dark tail with a broad rufous band on the end. Mixed pairs often occur. Forages fairly low with tail and wings spread. Similar to female Black Fantail, but Dimorphic has more gray-brown underparts and lacks the black central tail feathers. Song, a tuneless jumble of tinkling notes.
Identification
The dimorphic fantail (Rhipidura brachyrhyncha) is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is found in the New Guinea Highlands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Taxonomy
Genus: Rhipidura; Family: Rhipiduridae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura brachyrhyncha
- Authority
- Schlegel, 1871
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
West Indian Woodpecker
Melanerpes superciliaris
A medium-sized woodpecker of drier forests including palm groves. Its strongly barred back eliminates all other species in it range except for Northern and Fernandina’s Flickers, but both flickers lack the West Indian Woodpecker’s extensively red nape and hind-crown. The barring on the back of the Northern Flicker is also far less pronounced than it is on West Indian Woodpecker. Common vocalizations include a staccato “pee-uh-uh-uh-uh…” with accent on first note, and emphatic bursts of “bluhhh, bluhhh, bluhhh,” with notes that are both harsh and slightly trilled.
Common Flameback
Dinopium javanense
Three-toed, small-billed, golden-backed woodpecker found primarily in wet tropical forests in two disjunct regions, the Western Ghats in India and Southeast Asia. Separated from Greater Flameback by a much smaller bill, a black nape, and a black undivided horizontal stripe below the cheek. Separated from Black-rumped Flameback by a red rump and a white throat. This species is a regular participant in mixed-species foraging flocks, often detected by its loud, high-pitched trill similar to that of Greater Flameback. Best told from the nearly identical Himalayan Flameback by voice.
Dulit Frogmouth
Batrachostomus harterti
Large frogmouth of Borneo’s central mountains. Inhabits foothill forest (typically 600–1230 m). Heavyset, with a whiskered face and bright white spots on the wings. Similar Large Frogmouth is generally found at lower elevations; Dulit has broader (as opposed to Large’s sharply triangular) white wing spots, strong pale barring on the throat, and overall darker coloration. Song is a low, resonant, melancholy-sounding “hooooo’m”; call consists of barks, typically given in pairs: “woo’WUP!”.
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