Black-backed Forktail vs White-crowned Forktail

Black-backed Forktail

Enicurus immaculatus

Small26 gRiverine

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Tareq Uddin Ahmed, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

White-crowned Forktail

Enicurus leschenaulti

Small34 gRiverine

The white-crowned forktail is the largest of the forktails. Between 25 and 28 centimetres (9.8 and 11.0 in) long, the white-crowned forktail typically weighs between 27 and 38 grams (0.95 and 1.34 oz), though specimens weighing up to 53 grams (1.9 oz) have been reported. It has black feathering on its throat extending down to its breast, as well as a black face and scapulars. The crown and forehead have a prominent white patch, sometimes visible as a slight crest, from which the bird gets its name. The belly of the bird is white, and is sharply delineated from the throat and face.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: angryphyco · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-backed Forktail and White-crowned Forktail.