Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Spotted Forktail
Enicurus maculatus
Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus) — 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 Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 40.4 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 maculatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 40.4 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spotted Forktail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spotted Forktail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR e Afghanistan to sc Vietnam.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 14.5 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 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spotted Forktail?
The Spotted Forktail is a small bird that weighs around 40.4 g.
Where does the Spotted Forktail live?
The Spotted Forktail is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR e Afghanistan to sc Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spotted Forktail belong to?
The Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Spotted Forktail eat?
The Spotted Forktail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Spotted Forktail migrate?
The Spotted Forktail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spotted 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.
What sound does the Spotted Forktail make?
1 real field recording of the Spotted Forktail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spotted Forktail's range?
The Spotted Forktail has a mapped global range of about 1.6 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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A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.