Spotted Forktail
Enicurus maculatus
斑背燕尾
Introduction
Species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae. Found in the Himalayas and the hills of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and southern China including Yunnan. Inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, particularly boulder-strewn torrents, forest streams, and roadside canals. Breeds at 1200–3600m elevation, descending to about 600m in winter. The white-spotted back distinguishes this species from other similarly sized forktails.
Description
A 25-cm-long bird with a long, deeply forked tail. The plumage features a white forehead, black crown and nape, black back with white spots, and a broad white wing bar. The tail is graduated and black and white. Sexes are similar.
Identification
The white-spotted back is the key field mark distinguishing this species from other forktails of similar size. The deeply forked, graduated tail combined with the broad white wing bar are additional identifying features.
Distribution & Habitat
Range extends through the Himalayas and the hills of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and southern China including Yunnan. Breeds at 1200–3600m elevation and descends to about 600m in winter. Inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests near water.
Behavior & Ecology
The call is a shrill, screechy KREE, given mostly in flight, along with some shrill, squeaky notes while perched. Inhabits boulder-strewn torrents, forest streams, and roadside canals.
Conservation
No information provided.
Culture
This species was depicted by Abu al-Hasan, a Mughal painter. A painting of the spotted forktail was created in Phoolchoki Forest, Godawari, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Enicurus
- eBird Code
- spofor1
Vocalizations
Subspecies (4)
-
Enicurus maculatus bacatus
mountains of southern China (southeastern Yunnan and northwestern Fujian) to northern Vietnam
-
Enicurus maculatus guttatus
Himalayas of far eastern Nepal to southwestern China and Myanmar
-
Enicurus maculatus maculatus
Himalayas of northern Afghanistan to Kashmir, Nepal, and southern Tibet
-
Enicurus maculatus robinsoni
southern Vietnam (Da Lat Plateau)
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.