The Rufous Fantail Poem by Francis Duggan

The little rufous fantail with his tail feathers fanned out
He seldom ever takes a rest he likes to fly about
He's ever chasing bees and flies from dawn till dark of day
And flitting in and out of trees just like his cousin 'gray'

The rufous fantail is one bird who lives up to his name
I once see one in darkening wood he looked like darting flame
With fanned out tail and rufous rump and brown spots through breast gray, white
And they do look quite attractive birds when seen in the sunlight.

The rufous fantail seldom rest he's always on the go
And hunting for insects in the trees and flitting to and fro
But he doesn't show much fear of man he lets you get quite near
Of human kind this little bird shows very little fear.

In cup shaped nest felted with spiders webs they raise their family
Twelve foot or so above the ground in fork of younger tree
These beautiful fly catching birds who live up to their name
Who when seen in a darkening wood look like a darting flame.