Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus Scientific name definitions

22–25 cm; 26–38 g. Very like E. immaculatus, including in size, but with slate-grey crown to mantle. Sexes similar. Juvenile is like juvenile E. immaculatus, but greyer above.

C & E Himalayas from N India (Uttarakhand) E to Myanmar, SC & E China (N to C Sichuan and Zhejiang), Thailand, Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia; possibly also Hainan (1 Pui Lok, C. B., L. Kwok Shing, Z. Jianfeng, and S. Wenba (2005). Notable bird records from Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Hainan Island, China. Forktail 21:33–41. Close ).

As E. immaculatus, preferring larger rivers in valleys, often in open country. Breeds at 300–1600 m in Himalayas, wintering down into adjacent plains; recorded at 400–1800 m in Thailand. In S China, separated ecologically from E. leschenaulti by its occupation of higher inland streams.

Sedentary in SE Asia; subject to vertical movements in Himalayas.

Small aquatic and water-associated invertebrates. In study in Nepal, 56% of observations of foraging position involved marginal rocks, 21% other areas of river, 9% shoals or marginal ground, 7% riparian ground and 7% mid-river rocks; prey-picking techniques were 50% from in or on water or on riverbed, 37% from shoals or mud, rest from rocks, riparian ground or vegetation, and in air.

Call a high, thin, sharp, metallic screech, “teenk”, like that of small kingfisher (Alcedinidae); short, shrill, high, thin “seet” or metallic ascending “tseet”, occasionally followed by rasping “chaat”, and squeaky-hinge “weeng” (identical to that of E. immaculatus).

Feb–Jun throughout range. Nest a cup or semi-dome (depending on site) built of compacted bryophytes, grasses, leaves and leaf skeletons, lined with plant fibre and leaf skeletons, attached to rock or boulder with mud, in one instance placed in stump leaning over stream, in another on fern-covered embankment above mill-race. Eggs 2–5, pinkish-white or bluish-white to white with bold reddish-brown spots over lavender undermarkings. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Locally fairly common in Nepal. Fairly common in most of SE Asian range, but only locally so in S Thailand. Common in China.