Spotted Forktail
A species of Forktails Scientific name : Enicurus maculatus Genus : Forktails
Spotted Forktail, A species of Forktails
Botanical name: Enicurus maculatus
Genus: Forktails
Content
Description
Photo By Arnab Pal
Description
The spotted forktail (Enicurus maculatus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in the Himalayas and the hills of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and southern China including Yunnan. Birds of this species are 25 cm with a long tail. The sexes are alike, having a white forehead and a black crown and nape, a black back spotted white, and a broad white wing bar. The tail is deeply forked, graduated black and white. The white spotted back easily identifies this species from other similar sized forktail. Its call is a shrill, screechy KREE, mostly given in flight; it also makes some shrill, squeaky notes while perched. It breeds mostly at 1200–3600 m, and descends to about 600 m in winter. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, where it is found in boulder-strewn torrents, forest streams, and roadside canals.
Size
26 cm
Feeding Habits
Spotted Forktail's diet consists of aquatic insects, larvae, small molluscs, and caterpillars. It forages in and around streambeds, often turning over stones and disturbing prey by foot-paddling. Spotted Forktail also hunts by making aerial jumps for flying insects. It feeds mainly by scouring gaps between rocks at water’s edge.
Habitat
Spotted Forktail typically inhabits sheltered stream environments characterized by features such as emergent rocks, pools, and small waterfalls. These streams are often nestled within dense forests that create a tunnel-like effect, as well as wooded gorges and ravines. Spotted Forktail prefers areas with shaded stream banks and is generally associated with mountainous regions, descending to lower elevations during non-breeding seasons.
Dite type
Insectivorous
Photo By Arnab Pal
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Old world flycatchers Genus
Forktails Species
Spotted Forktail