Black-backed Forktail

Enicurus immaculatus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesRiverineCavity nestSmall · 26 g

ID tip

A medium-sized forktail, the black-backed forktail is between 20.5 and 23 centimetres (8+1⁄8 and 9 in). It weighs between 25 and 29 grams. The length of the wing has been recorded as between 8.6 and 9.8 centimetres (3+3⁄8 and 3+7⁄8 in) in the male and 8.6 to 9.0 centimetres (3+3⁄8 to 3+1⁄2 in) in the female. The bill extends 2 centimetres (3⁄4 in) from the skull, while the tail is between 12.4 and 12.7 centimetres (4+7⁄8 and 5 in) long. The species has a broad white stripe beginning just behind the eyes and running across its forehead.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Black-backed Forktail

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Black-backed Forktail

Regular range

The map shades 7 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Black-backed Forktail

The black-backed forktail, occasionally referred to as the black-throated forktail, is a forktail species in the family Muscicapidae. The species was described in 1836, from a specimen collected in Nepal. It is a medium-sized forktail, weighing between 25 and 29 grams, with a length of 20.5 to 23 centimetres. The species has a broad white stripe across its forehead. The crown, face, and mantle are black, while the bird's underparts are white, sharply divided from the black above. The wings are largely black with a broad white stripe across the greater coverts. The tail of the species, similar to that of other forktails, is long, graduated, and deeply forked.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Black-backed Forktail vs White-crowned Forktail

Learn the Black-backed Forktail in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.