Gray Fantail

1. Constantly fanned and flicked tail with white outer edges, visible both when perched and in flight.

2. White throat and eyebrow contrasting with darker upperparts.

3. Active, acrobatic flight as they pursue insects, often changing direction rapidly.

Grey Fantails feed mainly on flying insects, which they catch in mid-air using quick, agile movements. They may perch and watch for prey or move through vegetation with their tail spread to flush out insects. Breeding occurs mainly from August to January. Both parents build a small, cup-shaped nest, often with a long "tail" hanging below, in the fork of a tree. They share incubation and feeding duties, usually raising several broods each season. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in both natural and modified landscapes, as long as trees or dense shrubs are available for nesting and foraging

Grey Fantails are widespread throughout Australia and can also be found in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. They inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, woodlands, mangroves, heaths, and suburban gardens. They are especially common along forest edges and in areas with scattered trees. In southern Australia, some populations migrate north during winter, while others remain in their territories year-round

The scientific name Rhipidura albiscapa refers to the bird’s fan-shaped tail and white outer tail feathers. Grey Fantails have adapted well to changes in the Australian landscape, including urban gardens. Specific Indigenous cultural stories about the Grey Fantail in Australia are not widely documented in published sources, so this section is omitted for accuracy.