Passeriformes / Muscicapidae / Enicurus
Little Forktail
Enicurus scouleri · 小燕尾
Introduction
A species in the family Muscicapidae found in mountain ranges of Asia. It inhabits mountain streams, waterfalls, and forest puddles, foraging on wet rocks for aquatic insects.
Description
Sexes are alike with black and white plumage. Black above with a white forehead; a white band in wings extends across the lower back, featuring a small black rump patch. The tail is slightly forked and short with white in outer feathers. Throat is black, and underparts are white.
Distribution & Habitat
Found in the Tian Shan and Himalayan mountain ranges, southern China, and Taiwan. Breeds between 1200-3700m. Natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Behavior & Ecology
Solitary or found in pairs. Forages energetically on moss-covered and wet slippery rocks, plunging underwater to pursue aquatic insects. Constantly wags and flicks its tail, occasionally launching short sallies. Generally silent, except for a rarely uttered sharp 'TZitTzit' call.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Enicurus
Distribution
mountains of eastern Uzbekistan and northeastern Afghanistan through the Himalayas eastward to southeastern China and Taiwan, and southward to northern Indochina
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.
