Fauna
Bird

Sulawesi Fantail

Rhipidura teysmanni

Also known as Rusty-flanked Fantail, Celebes Fantail

Sulawesi fantails are lively, restless insectivores that flit through the subcanopy of Indonesian cloud forests, frequently cocking and spreading their broad, rounded tails like handheld fans. They forage actively along mossy boughs and bamboo thickets, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks alongside warblers, white-eyes, and whistlers. Pairs defend territories year-round, communicating with thin, high-pitched piping whistles and brisk chattering calls.

Forest BirdEndemicInsectivorous
Sulawesi Fantail reference
(c) William Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by William Stephens · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMoths, Flies, Small Beetles
Predators
  • Sulawesi Masked-Owl
  • Asian Palm Civet
  • Green Tree Python
ThreatsHighland habitat fragmentation and agricultural clearing
HabitatsMoist montane and hill evergreen forests
Life span4–8 years
Classification
  1. FamilyRhipiduridae
  2. SpeciesRhipidura teysmanni
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Binocular Observation: Scan the forest midstory and understory, watching for erratic movements and flared tail feathers.
  • Auditory Clues: Listen for faint, insect-like piping whistles that reveal birds hidden within dense epiphytic cover.
Related species
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