Description:

Smallest forktail, with notched, relatively short tail. Has black tail with prominent white sides, black band across white rump, and prominent white forehead. Tail is constantly wagged and flicked open. Juvenile lacks white forehead, has brownish-black upperparts, and white underparts.

Distribution:

Common resident all across Gilgit-Baltistan, except for Hunza in the north. Always keeps close to water; not dependent on tree cover. Wide range of mountain torrents and major rivers, penetrating drier and less forested valleys up to 3000m.

Behavior:

Forages by picking prey off wet rocks, or by standing in shallow rapids and picking out passing morsels, sometimes ascending water-washed rocks against current, occasionally makes short flycatching sallies or hover-picks floating item from surface. Chiefly feeds on aquatic insects, crustacea, beetles, ants, flies, some plant matter and also consumes grit.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Little Forktail in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Little Forktail

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.