Mix Flock - White Throated Fantail and role in mix flock

The White Throated Fantail have been know in many of our highland in Malaysia where their ability to gather mix flock. Nevertheless their mix flock was never a large group. Small company of bird will gather under the white-throated fantail mix flock. Similar observation was also observed in many other location. Here in the Peninsula Malaysia a very consistent trend was observed in most of the highland in Peninsula Malaysia. This include Maxwell Hill, Fraser's Hill and also Cameroon Highland. A very similar situation was also observed in Kinabalu Park. Here I will like to share some observation taken and studied for the pass 5 years.

Role of White-Throated Fantail

In many situation we observed White-Throated Fantail were together in a mix flock. While this species follow flock there also have 2 different role in a mix flock.

1. Driving the direction of a mix flock

2. Ability to gather small group of Mix flock.

1.

In a typical mix flock observation for medium and large flock, the white throated fantail is always observed to be somewhere in the mid and beginning of the flock. This is rather more consistent to location such as Fraser's Hill. In a few observation we have noted that the White Throated Fantail have been directing the direction of the mix flock. The Fantail in this situation will move from one location to another within its own territory in which the direction will be followed by the flock. In most time this activity is all followed by the call of the Fantail. The bird will remain its location from mid level to canopy level while leading the flock.  In a few incident more the one pair of fantail was observed where the role will pass on from one pair to another when the flock crosses from one fantail territory to another.

2.

However their other role was actually gathering small flock. This flock usually only consist of small birds. In Peninsula Malaysia, they are usually consist of Chestnut Crowned Warbler, Mountain Fulvetta or even some small species of flycatcher such as the Little Pied Flycatcher. The Kinabalu Park, The Yellow Breasted Warbler and also the Chestnut Crested Yuhinia was observed to be gather from the White-Throated fantail. Majority of the time this flock up in the canopy lowest at mid level and above. Flock will move from tree to tree within the Fantail territory. However I have never observed the passing of their role to another fantail territory. This flock are usually gathered fast and lasted very short time. Rarely in any situation birds bigger then the Fantail follow in. in a few incident where near slope and lower tree is available, this flock gather to about 1-2 meter above ground. 

Thought the role of the fantail and ability was observed and studied in some other location, details to how they bring advantage to the flock especially flock they gathered in Malaysia remain a question. More part about mix flock will be uploaded in future especially regarding species in Malaysia. Hopefully this can bring in new insight to many more study available in the country and the region.