The Micronesian rufous fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae that is endemic to the Mariana Islands and the island of Yap in Micronesia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Australian rufous fantail.
Region
Micronesia (Mariana Islands and Yap)
Typical Environment
Occurs in the forested islands of the Marianas (including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota) and on Yap. It inhabits native evergreen forest, secondary growth, edge thickets, and riparian corridors. Birds forage from the understory to mid-canopy and readily use regenerating habitats. It tolerates some disturbance but is vulnerable to invasive predators on snake-infested islands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A lively, tail-fanning insect-hunter, it often fans and flicks its rufous tail to flush prey from foliage. It is endemic to the Mariana Islands and Yap in Micronesia and was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Australian rufous fantail. The Guam population was extirpated following the introduction of the brown tree snake, but the species persists on other islands.
Temperament
active and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent sallying
Social Behavior
Typically found singly, in pairs, or family groups, often joining mixed-species flocks. Builds a neat, cup-shaped nest suspended in a fork or on a horizontal branch, usually low to mid-level. Both parents attend the nest and feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
High, thin, tinkling phrases interspersed with sharp chips and twittering notes. Calls are frequent while foraging and increase in intensity during territorial interactions.
Plumage
Compact fantail with a broad, constantly fanned tail; upperparts brown to olive-brown with a warm rufous rump and tail. The throat is white, bordered by a dusky malar line and partial breast band; underparts are buffy to whitish with a rufous wash on the flanks. Tail shows pale tips and dark subterminal band when spread.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects and other arthropods, including flies, moths, beetles, and spiders. Captures prey by short sallies from perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Tail-fanning and wing-flicking help flush hidden prey, especially in dense understory.
Preferred Environment
Forages in shaded understory, along forest edges, and in gaps with abundant foliage. Frequently works along stream margins and paths where insects concentrate.
