ARAFURA FANTAIL

Photographed at Adel's Grove, Lawn Hill, Queensland October 2015

724            ARAFURA FANTAIL               Rhipidura dryas

Australia           (566)

Also known as Wood Fantail. Similar to the Rufous but now a species on its own. Found in mangroves, riverine forests of melaleuca, pandanus; monsoon rainforest and vine thickets. 16 cm, wingspan to c. 21 cm. Range: Banda-Arafura Arch. -Lesser Sunda Is., s. New Guinea and n. Aust. Coastal n. Aust. from Yampi Sound (WA) to w. Cape York, n. to Aurukun (Q). Sedentary.

Darwin, January 2024

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.