The white-throated fantail is a small passerine bird. It is found in forest, scrub and cultivation across tropical southern Asia from the Himalayas, India and Bangladesh east to Indonesia. The white-spotted fantail until recently was considered a subspecies.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills and the Indian subcontinent east through Myanmar, southern China, and into mainland Southeast Asia and parts of Indonesia. It frequents broadleaf forests, bamboo thickets, scrub, secondary growth, plantations, and wooded gardens. It is especially common along forest edges, streamsides, and clearings where insects are abundant. Adaptable to human-modified habitats provided there is sufficient shrub cover and understorey.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A restless insect-hunter, the white-throated fantail constantly fans and flicks its long tail while foraging. It builds a neat, delicate cup nest bound with spider silk, often slung from a thin forked twig. It readily joins mixed-species flocks in forests and gardens. The white-spotted fantail was formerly treated as a subspecies but is now recognized as separate.
Temperament
active and confiding
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent sallying and tail-fanning
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season; outside breeding, it often forages in loose association with mixed-species flocks. The species constructs a tidy cup nest bound with spider silk and plant fibers, typically placed on a slender horizontal fork. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a bright, sweet series of clear whistles and trills, often delivered from a low perch and repeated in short phrases. Calls include sharp chips and scolding chatters when agitated. Phrases can vary subtly between individuals and regions.
