Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Rhipiduridae
  4. ›
  5. Rhipidura
  6. ›
  7. Arafura Fantail
Arafura Fantail
Photo · Joseph Smit

BirdUp · Species

Arafura Fantail

Rhipidura dryasGould, 1843

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Rhipiduridae
Genus
Rhipidura

At a glance

The Arafura Fantail, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The Arafura fantail, sometimes known as the wood fantail, inhabits the Lesser Sunda Islands, the northern coast of Australia from the Kimberley to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, including subcoastally in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and southern New Guinea. It is similar to the rufous fantail, from which it has been split taxonomically but, apart from minor overlap in the eastern Moluccas, their geographic ranges are discrete. It is generally duller than the rufous fantail with the rufous colouration more restricted.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Arafura Fantail?

The Arafura Fantail is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Arafura Fantail in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Arafura Fantail live in Australia?

The Arafura Fantail is native to Australia, recorded across 20 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingCoastal south-central New Guinea north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Resident
  • Breeding

6 regions recorded