Slaty-backed Forktail
Enicurus schistaceus
The Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus) is a rare chats, old world flycatchers, and alli found in 11 countries, weighing about 31 g. The slaty-backed forktail is a species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae.
About the Slaty-backed Forktail
The slaty-backed forktail is a species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae. A slim, medium-sized forktail, it is distinguished from similar species by its slate grey forehead, crown, and mantle. It has a long and deeply forked tail banded in black and white, a white rump, and a white bar across its primary feathers; the rest of the plumage is predominantly white. The sexes look alike. The bird frequents the edges of fast-flowing streams and rivers, where it hunts small invertebrates by hopping among rocks or flying out over the water. It breeds between February and July, laying 3–4 pinkish, bluish, or white eggs; both sexes incubate the eggs.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Slaty-backed Forktail?
- 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). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Slaty-backed Forktail?
- The Slaty-backed Forktail is a small sized bird weighing about 31 g.
- Where can you see a Slaty-backed Forktail?
- The Slaty-backed Forktail occurs in 11 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Bhutan and Malaysia.
- What birds look similar to a Slaty-backed Forktail?
- The Slaty-backed Forktail is most easily confused with the Little Forktail, the White-crowned Forktail and the Spotted Forktail.
- Is the Slaty-backed Forktail endangered?
- The Slaty-backed Forktail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Slaty-backed Forktail for real
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