RUFOUS FANTAIL

Photographed at Eagleby Wetlands, Brisbane August 2015.

639          RUFOUS FANTAIL           Rhipidura rufifrons

Australia          (482)

15-16.5 cm. Found in the undergrowth of rainforests/wetter eucalypt forests/gullies; monsoon forests, paperbarks, sub-inland and coastal scrubs; mangroves, watercourses; parks, gardens. On migration, farms, streets, buildings. Range: coastal n. and e. Aust., and islands. Breeding migrant (Oct-April) to se Aust., mostly on and coastward of Gt Divide, w. to Grampians NP-sw Vic.; casual w. to Mt Lofty Ras.; vagrant Tas. Extends well inland in river red gum forests of Murray Valley/Riverina-Hay-Dubbo (NSW); Darling Downs (Q). Altitudinal migrant in ne. NSW -e. Q. leaving mountain rainforests March-April, returning Sept.-Oct. Regular autumn-winter migrant to PNG across Torres Strait. Also resident Soloman Is., PNG, e. Indonesia, Guam.