Photo: Robert tdc / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Forktail
Enicurus scouleri
Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Enicurus
- Species scouleri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.8 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Forktail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Little Forktail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas to e China, nw Vietnam and Taiwan.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.3 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Forktail?
The Little Forktail is a small bird that weighs around 17.8 g.
Where does the Little Forktail live?
The Little Forktail is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas to e China, nw Vietnam and Taiwan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Forktail belong to?
The Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Little Forktail eat?
The Little Forktail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Forktail migrate?
The Little Forktail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Little Forktail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Little Forktail's range?
The Little Forktail has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.