Supertramp Fantail
Rhipidura semicollaris
Small island specialist; a "classic" fantail, with long, pale-tipped tail and slim bill. Plumage extremely geographically variable, and likely involves multiple species. Most populations have some rufous on the back and rump, but birds on small islands off of western Papua and parts of the Banda Sea are entirely brown above. Note black mask in most populations, and a black necklace with a variable amount of additional black spotting on the chest. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Actively forages near the ground in areas with dense vegetation, including mangroves. Previously considered the same species as Rufous Fantail, and more recently, Arafura Fantail.
Taxonomy
The supertramp fantail was formally described in 1843 by the German naturalist Salomon Müller based on specimens collected in Timor. He placed it with the other fantails in the genus Rhipidura and coined the binomial name Rhipidura semicollaris. The specific epithet combines the Latin semi- meaning "half" with collaris meaning "collared". The supertramp fantail and its subspecies were formerly treated as being conspecific with the Arafura fantail (Rhipidura dryas).<p>Nine subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura semicollaris
- Authority
- Müller, S, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Masked Woodswallow
Artamus personatus
Chunky bird with broad, triangular wings and short, decurved bill. Male dark gray above, pale below, with a black face and throat and very pale underwings. Female with fainter mask and slight rusty wash to breast. Often forages very high up in enormous flocks, sometimes mixed in with White-browed Woodswallows.
Henderson Petrel
Pterodroma atrata
A typical uniformly grayish-brown petrel with pale mottling at the base of the bill that gives it a somewhat “frosted” facial appearance. Pale bar along the leading edge of the underwing between the body and elbow is evident in flight. Highly pelagic, visiting land only to nest. Similar to Kermadec Petrel, but lacks the white primary shafts in the upperwing of that species and is overall more uniformly colored. Providence Petrel is similar but appears much heavier-chested and paler-faced, with more extensively mottled gray-brown tones across the body. Herald Petrel is very similar, but has much more contrasting dark-and-light underwing pattern. Henderson Petrel is silent at sea.
Buru Bush Warbler
Locustella disturbans
A sparrow-sized dark warbler with an often scruffy-looking, graduated tail. Has dark chestnut-brown upperparts, a whitish eyebrow, a distinct white throat, and dull grayish underparts. Formerly grouped with Buru Bush Warbler and Seram Bush Warbler under the name “Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler.” A secretive inhabitant of montane and foothill forest, often creeping around on or near the ground. Darker above and dingier below than Gray’s and Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warblers, and also has a clean-cut white throat; almost identical to Sulawesi and Seram Bush Warblers, but ranges do not overlap. Calls include a sharp metallic “chit” and a drawn-out, wavering buzzy note, “tzeeoooreee.” There is some variation in songs, which usually comprise three high-pitched buzzing notes, “tzeeee-tzeee-tzeee,” higher-pitched on the final note. Song includes a high, liquid-sounding “tzi-tzee”, as well as a longer, more repetitive “tzi-tzee, tzi-tzee, tzi-tzee.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.