The Bismarck fantail is a fantail native to the islands New Britain and New Ireland. The binomial commemorates the German naturalist Friedrich Dahl.
Region
Bismarck Archipelago
Typical Environment
Occurs on New Britain, New Ireland, and nearby islets in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It occupies lowland and foothill rainforest, forest edges, and secondary growth, and adapts well to gardens and plantations near forest. Birds are frequently seen along streams, clearings, and roadsides where insect activity is high. It tolerates moderate habitat disturbance but remains most numerous in intact or semi-natural woodland.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A lively island fantail, it constantly fans and flicks its tail while foraging, which helps flush insects from foliage. It is named in honor of the German naturalist Friedrich Dahl. Often joins mixed-species flocks in forest edges and secondary growth, where it can be quite confiding around people.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered in pairs or small family groups and frequently associates with mixed-species foraging flocks. Builds a neat cup nest of fibers bound with spider silk, typically suspended from a horizontal fork. Both parents take part in territory defense and provisioning.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers a high, thin series of trills and chips interspersed with squeaky scolds. Calls are rapid and persistent while foraging, becoming more emphatic during territorial encounters.
Plumage
Compact fantail with brown to gray-brown upperparts, a contrasting whitish throat and pale buff underparts, often divided from the throat by a narrow gray breast band. Tail is broad and frequently fanned, dark with paler or whitish tips and edges. Wings show warm rufous-brown tones. Overall appearance is soft-toned with subtle but distinct contrasts when the tail is spread.
Diet
Primarily consumes small flying and arboreal insects such as flies, beetles, moths, and their larvae, as well as spiders. Forages by sallying from low to mid-level perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. The constant tail-fanning and wing-flicking behavior helps disturb prey from vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, light gaps, stream margins, and in secondary growth where insect densities are high. Readily uses plantations and village gardens adjacent to forest, often following human or animal movement that stirs insects.
