Fantail

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(Redirected from Rhipidurinae)

{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Fantails | image = rufousfantail.jpg | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Passeriformes | familia = Dicruridae | genus = Rhipidura | genus_authority = Horsfield and Vigors, 1827 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = many, see text }}

Fantails are small insectivorous birds of southern Asia and Australasia all belonging to the genus Rhipidura and subfamily Rhipidurinae. Most of the species are about 15 to 18 cm long, specialist aerial feeders, and named as "fantails", but the Australian Willie Wagtail, is a little larger, and though still an expert hunter of insects on the wing, concentrates equally on terrestrial prey.

It may be noted that the true wagtails are part of the genus Motacilla and family Motacillidae and are not particularly close relatives of the fantails.

Species


A fantail is, alternately, the overhanging rear deck of many ships. See poop deck.