Bird Guide

Little Forktail vs Slaty-backed Forktail

Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri)

Little Forktail

Enicurus scouleri

Small18 gRiverine

The sexes are alike, with black and white plumage. Black above, with white forehead; white band in wings extends across lower back, small, black rump patch; slightly forked, short tail with white in outer feathers; black throat, white below.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Andrew Bazdyrev · CC BY 4.0
Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)

Slaty-backed Forktail

Enicurus schistaceus

Small31 gRiverine

The slaty-backed forktail is a slim, medium-sized forktail between 22 and 25 centimetres (8+5⁄8 and 9+7⁄8 in) long, and weighs between 26 and 38 grams (0.92 and 1.34 oz). It is coloured slate-grey, black, and white. The bill is black, while the feet of the bird are a pale pinkish or greyish colour. The iris has been described as dark brown, though it has been recorded as black in certain specimens. It has a black throat and a narrow white stripe across its face till just behind the eyes, sometimes describe as a white mask. Voice: One of the slaty-backed forktail's calls has been described as a "high, thin, sharp, metallic screech, ''teenk'", similar to that made by a small kingfisher; in particular, it has been mistaken for the call of the Blyth's kingfisher Alcedo hercules. Another call is described as a mellow "cheet". It also produces a repeated, harsh screeching call when alarmed.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Adrien Jailloux · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Little Forktail and Slaty-backed Forktail.