The New Zealand fantail is very similar to Australia’s grey fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), and the grey fantail has been considered to be Rhipidura fuliginosa (the New Zealand species) in the past. Fantails are about 16 cm long, and half of this is their tail, the size of which becomes apparent when they spread out their tail feathers. Fantails will flick their tails while looking for food; it may be that the sudden appearance of lots of tail feathers startles prey into moving, thereby meeting their doom.
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