Fantails are small
insectivorous birds of
Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent belonging to the
genus Rhipidura in the
family Rhipiduridae. Most of the species are about 15 to 18 cm long, specialist aerial feeders, and named as "fantails", but the Australian
willie wagtail, is a little larger, and though still an expert hunter of insects on the wing, concentrates equally on terrestrial prey.