Photo: Corey T. Callaghan / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malaita Fantail
Rhipidura malaitae
Malaita Fantail (Rhipidura malaitae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
The Malaita Fantail (Rhipidura malaitae) is a member of the Rhipiduridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 12 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Rhipiduridae Fantails
- Genus Rhipidura
- Species malaitae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malaita Fantail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Malaita Fantail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Malaita Fantail (Rhipidura malaitae) is a species of bird in the Rhipiduridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane Malaita (sc Solomon Is.).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 20 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malaita Fantail?
The Malaita Fantail is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the Malaita Fantail live?
The Malaita Fantail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane Malaita (sc Solomon Is.), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Malaita Fantail belong to?
The Malaita Fantail (Rhipidura malaitae) belongs to the Rhipiduridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Malaita Fantail eat?
The Malaita Fantail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Malaita Fantail migrate?
The Malaita Fantail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Malaita Fantail endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Malaita Fantail's range?
The Malaita Fantail has a mapped global range of about 20 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Rhipiduridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.