# Sunda forktail
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{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Sunda forktail
| image = Sunda Forktail 0A2A4639.jpg
| image_caption = Female
| image2 = Sunda Forktail 0A2A5027.jpg
| image2_caption = Male
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = [{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Enicurus velatus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22710126A94235417 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710126A94235417.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}]
| genus = Enicurus
| species = velatus
| authority = [Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck), 1822
| synonyms =
}}
The '''Sunda forktail''' ('''''Enicurus velatus''''') is a species of [bird](/source/bird) in the family [Muscicapidae](/source/Muscicapidae). It is [endemic](/source/endemic) to [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia), where it is restricted to the islands of [Java](/source/Java) and [Sumatra](/source/Sumatra). Its natural [habitat](/source/habitat) is boulder strewn streams in tropical moist [montane forest](/source/montane_forest) from 600–2000 m. More rarely the species occurs closer to sea level. The species is common in Sumatra, but is rarer in Java, where the [white-crowned forktail](/source/white-crowned_forktail) is more common.[{{ cite book | last=Collar | first=N.J. | year=2005 | chapter=Sunda forktail | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Christie | editor3-first=D.A. | title=Handbook of the Birds of the World | volume=10: Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes | location=Barcelona, Spain | publisher=Lynx Edicions | isbn=978-84-87334-72-6 | pages=770–771 [806] | chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0010unse/page/806/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }}]
==Taxonomy==
The Sunda forktail was [formally described](/source/species_description) and illustrated in 1822 by the Dutch zoologist [Coenraad Jacob Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck) under the [binomial name](/source/binomial_name) ''Enicurus velatus''.[{{ cite book | last=Temminck | first=Coenraad Jacob | author-link=Coenraad Jacob Temminck | year=1822 | title=Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon | volume=3 | at=Livraison 27, Plate 160, Fig. 2| publisher=F.G. Levrault | location=Paris | language=French | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36704923 }} The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 ''livraison'' (parts), 1820-1839. For the dates see: {{ cite journal | last=Dickinson | first=E.C. | author-link=Edward C. Dickinson | year=2001 | title=Systematic notes on Asian birds. 9. The ''Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées'' of Temminck & Laugier (1820–1839) | journal=Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden | volume=335 | pages=7–53 | url=http://repository.naturalis.nl/document/46425 }}][{{ cite book | editor1-last=Mayr | editor1-first=Ernst | editor1-link=Ernst Mayr | editor2-last=Paynter | editor2-first=Raymond A. Jr | year=1964 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=10 | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | location=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=86 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14486275 }}] The specific epithet ''velatus'' is [Latin](/source/Latin) meaning "veiled".[{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=399 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n399/mode/1up }}]
Two [subspecies](/source/subspecies) are recognised:[{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=July 2023 | title=Chats, Old World flycatchers | work=IOC World Bird List Version 13.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/chats/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=26 August 2023}}]
* ''E. v. sumatranus'' [Robinson](/source/Herbert_C._Robinson) & [Kloss](/source/C._Boden_Kloss), 1923 – montane [Sumatra](/source/Sumatra)
* ''E. v. velatus'' [Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck), 1822 – montane [Java](/source/Java)
thumb|Female with juvenile
==Description==
The Sunda forktail is {{convert|16|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length with a deeply forked tail. The male has a white breast, belly and rump, and black wings, and a dark grey back and head. There is a small white line between the eyes. The tail is black with white barring. The female is similar to the male but has a brown crown and nape. The [nominate race](/source/nominate_subspecies) is found on Java. The Sumatran subspecies, ''sumatranus'', differs from the nominate in having more rufous brown on the female. The call of this species is a hard shrill "chee" or "hie-tie-tie"