---
title: "Slaty-backed Forktail"
description: "Enicurus schistaceus — Aves. The slaty-backed forktail (Enicurus schistaceus) is a species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pt/animal/slaty-backed-forktail
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Slaty-backed Forktail

> Enicurus schistaceus — Aves. The slaty-backed forktail (Enicurus schistaceus) is a species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae.

- Scientific name: *Enicurus schistaceus*
- Category: `birds` (Aves)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lagos e rios)
- iNaturalist observations: 883
- Wikidata: [Q1589059](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1589059)
- iNaturalist taxon: [13087](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13087)

## Names

- en: Slaty-backed Forktail
- de: Graurückenscherenschwanz
- es: Torrentero dorsigrís
- fr: Énicure ardoisé
- pl: Widłogon maskowy

## Countries with the most observations

CN (340), TH (119), IN (118), MY (71), HK (47), BT (36), VN (26), NP (9), MM (6), LA (3)

## Summary

The slaty-backed forktail (Enicurus schistaceus) is a species of forktail in the family Muscicapidae. A slim, medium-sized forktail, it is distinguished from similar species by its slate grey forehead, crown, and mantle. It has a long and deeply forked tail banded in black and white, a white rump, and a white bar across its primary feathers; the rest of the plumage is predominantly white. The sexes look alike. The bird frequents the edges of fast-flowing streams and rivers, where it hunts small invertebrates by hopping among rocks or flying out over the water. It breeds between February and July, laying 3–4 pinkish…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaty-backed_forktail

## Photo

![Slaty-backed Forktail](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/slaty-backed-forktail/medium.jpg)

Photo: Stephen Matthews · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97744184

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/slaty-backed-forktail?lang=pt` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).