Bird Guide

White-browed Fantail vs White-throated Fantail

White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola)

White-browed Fantail

Rhipidura aureola

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The adult white-browed fantail is about 18 cm long. It has dark brown upperparts, with white spots on the wings, and whitish underparts. The fan-shaped tail is edged in white, and the long white supercilia meet on the forehead. The throat and eyemask are blackish and border whitish moustachial stripes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-browed Fantail
Recorded by Sudipto Roy · Song · Narendrapur, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mickey Wu · CC BY 4.0
White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)

White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

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The adult white-throated fantail is about 19 cm (7.5 in) long. It has a dark fan-shaped tail, edged in white, and white supercilium and throat. There is otherwise much variation in plumage between races. Most resemble the Himalayan R. a. canescans, which is primarily slate grey above and below, featuring a black eye mask, and a white throat and eyebrow. Local names for the bird in India include Nasoni sorai (Assamese).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jagdish Singh Negi · 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: White-browed Fantail and White-throated Fantail.