New Zealand fantail / Pīwakawaka

In 1787, Sparrman included a drawing of a fantail & genus description in Museum Carlsonianum, Vol 2, Plate 47

Sparrman classified the fantail with flycatchers in genus Muscicapa & gave binomial name Muscicapa fuliginosa ("sooty")

The genus 'Muscicapa' was used by others, including John Latham in his "General synopsis of birds", published 1791

In 1826, fantails reclassified into genus Rhipidura by Nicholas Vigors & Thomas Horsfield as tail more rounded at apex

The word 'rhipidura' is from the Ancient Greek:  ῥιπίς (rhipís, “fan”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”)

The New Zealand fantail's scientifc / binomial name is Rhipidura fuliginosa

1st part of the name identifies the genus to which it belongs & 2d part distinguishes between species of fantails

The New Zealand fantail is recognised as one of 61 species of fantails in Australasia, SE Asia & the Indian subcontinent

See Wikipedia: Fantails which cites list compiled by the International Ornithologists' Union (Dec 2023)

North Island fantail

Scientific name: Rhipidura fuliginosa placabilis (named in 1921 by Outram Bangs). Conservation status: Not Threatened

Chatham Island fantail (Moriori name: Tchitake)

Scientific name: Rhipidura fuliginosa penita (named in 1911 by Bangs). Conservation status: At risk - Naturally Uncommon

Lord Howe Island

Scientific name: Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina (named in 1879 by E. P. Ramsay). Conservation status: Extinct

Pied fantail - Adult

Greyish head, white eyebrows & upper breast, cinnamon chest & belly, brown back & rump, & white & black tail feathers

Pied fantail - Juvenile

Mainly brown tones over the head & body & no white eyebrows, & white & brown tail feathers

Black fantail (rare in Nth. Island & less than 5% of fantails in Sth Island)

Mainly black, with black-brown over rump, belly, & flight & tail feathers, & occasionally have white spot over each ear

In most fantails, the tail is longer than each wing

When the tail is folded it is rounded at the end

When spread in display or aerial foraging, the tail has a characteristic fan shape

Fantails regularly give ‘cheep’ calls during foraging or when alarmed

During the breeding season they chase others away from their territory with harsh chattering calls

Distinctive song has been described as “a chattering tweeta-tweeta-tweeta…. of regular rhythm”, and of high pitch

Fantails tend to be less vocal during cold and wet weather

In the North Island, fantails nest from August to March

In the South Island, fantails nest from September to January

On the Chatham Islands, fantails nest from October to January

Most nests are sheltered from above by foliage

Nests often have a ‘tail’ of material below the base of the nest

Two to five eggs are laid by the female & the interval between laying each egg is one day

Egg colour is white with brown spots.

The chicks are fed every 10 minutes for about 11-16 days in the nest

Both male & female feed the young chicks in the nest

Fantail chicks have short tails and often remain together, often perched side by side

Fantail chick will flaps it wings in readiness for leaving the nest

Fantails become independent around 26 - 44 days

Two or more broods per season are usually raised in the cup-shaped nests

The male looks after the fledglings when the female starts building the next nest

Incubation of the second brood may occur while the fledged young of the first brood are still being fed

Fantails eat small invertebrates such as moths, flies, beetles & spiders; and small fruit

They tend to catch flying insects

Hawking method

Fantails use a perch to spot swarms of insects. Then they fly at them & take each one with a snap of its beak & swallow

Flushing method

The fantail flies around to disturb vegetation to flush out insects and catch them in flight

Association method - following birds, animals, people (eg trampers) around to capture insects disturbed by movement

They'll join other birds (eg saddlebacks, brown creepers, whiteheads & silvereyes) to forage for food

They will also search cracks or crevices in the bark on branches & tree trunks

When searching for prey in foliage, fantails often flick their wings & fan their tails

This can frighten any hidden prey into movement which results in them being detected by the fantail

During cold weather, fantails can be seen foraging for food on the ground

Rats will eat eggs, chicks & adults

Stoats will eat adult fantails

Cats will eat adult fantails

Mynas have been known to eat fantail eggs & chicks

Magpies have been known to eat fantail eggs & chicks

Long-tailed cuckoos frequently raid nests to eat fantail eggs & chicks