Sounds of the Australian Bush – Enchanting Grey Fantails
55These Grey Fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa) – or possibly the same individual on separate days – were filmed in late May and early June 2020 in the Capertee Valley (NSW). On both occasions the location was a natural woodland zone within a private 140 acre conservation property. Grey Fantails are also reliably found in open forest on the steeper slopes of the property and neighbouring Wollemi National Park. Other forest and woodland birds that can be heard in the photo soundscape and video include the Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote and Fan-tailed Cuckoo. (Another sound of the “Australian bush” and suburbia is the lawn mower or slasher, thankfully a gentle drone from a nearby farm.)
Unlike their larger relative, the Willie Wagtail (e.g. this pair in a different part of the filming site: https://youtu.be/pLlvomkR5hs), Grey Fantails are never seen in the exposed grassy areas of this ex-farm or around the grounds of the house. However, in recent months we have noticed the odd fantail in revegetated areas where the trees are well-established and link to their usual habitats. They are also known to visit parks and gardens with sufficient tree cover. They primarily inhabit the mid canopy of trees (or higher) and tall shrubs and spend significantly less time on the ground than Willie Wagtails. Nonetheless, the two species have much in common; both are highly active insectivores with distinct tails and engaging personalities. Both have a tendency to approach humans, although it’s often unclear whether territorial behaviour and/or curiosity.
The Grey Fantail might even be the most hyperactive of Australian birds and is rarely seen in one position for long. Often they forage with other small birds (e.g. thornbills and pardalotes) but are readily distinguished by their flitting between perches, looping flights and gloriously fanned tail. And of course, their presence is heralded by those frequent contact “cheeps” and their unmistakable song - a high-pitched series of squeaks with a tinkly or twangy whistled quality. Somehow it reminds us of a fiddler or violinist using the highest notes possible. (Can you can come up with a better description?) Because singing is usually done from perches, it provides the best filming opportunity.
As the fantails flutter and twirl their way through the trees – and sometimes along a path in front of bushwalkers (as happened to us on the Blue Gum Swamp Track in the Blue Mountains National Park) – it’s easy to see why they are sometimes called Mad Fan. Perhaps their other name, Cranky Fan, comes from the seemingly-agitated cheeping when they are close to people. But it is less clear why past names include “Devil-bird” and “Fanny Devilbird” (from Australian Bird Names by Fraser and Gray, 2019). After all, look at that angelic face! Their antics and general cuteness are more enchanting than devilish, surely. For more information on fascinating Grey Fantails please visit https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Rhipidura-albiscapa