Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris Scientific name definitions

The Northern Fantail is a highly polytpic species that is widespread across northern Australia, New Guinea, the Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, the Bismarck Archipelago, Biak Island, and the Louisiade Archipelago. It is resident across most of its range, but there are some local movements, possibly related to rain or elevation, in some populations in Australia. As such a widespread and polytypic species, it is likely that Northern Fantail could be split into multiple species. Indeed, some species have already been recognized (see Cinnamon-tailed [R. fuscorufa] and Brown-capped Fantail [R. diluta]), but some authorities have split Northern Fantail as recognized here into as many as 9 species. However, further study is needed to clarify relationships among all the taxa currently recognized as Northern Fantail. All taxa are generally dark above, but vary in the color and pattern on the underparts, varying from white to rufous, with variable amounts of dark streaking or banding across the throat and breast.