The Long-tailed Minivet lives in open wooded areas, especially with oaks, acacias, and eucalyptus. It is uncommon and often inconspicuous, as it forages mainly at middle to upper levels of the forest1. It feeds mostly on ants and termites, which it catches on the wing or pecks from tunnels and bark. It also eats other insects, seeds, nuts, berries, eggs, and small animals. It sometimes visits bird feeders, where it may compete with other birds for food4. It has a loud and harsh voice, and can imitate the sounds of other birds, animals, and human noises. It has a distinctive chuckling call note, and a song that resembles a robin’s but is clearer and less nasal.

The Long-tailed Minivet breeds from March to June, depending on the location. It builds a cup-shaped nest of twigs, moss, and mud, usually in a conifer tree. The female lays 3 to 6 eggs, which are greenish or bluish with brown spots. The male helps to incubate the eggs and feed the young. The chicks fledge after about 16 days, and stay with their parents for another month or so.

The Long-tailed Minivet is a resident bird that does not migrate. It is not threatened by extinction, and has a large and stable population. However, it may face some threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, as well as from predators, parasites, and diseases. Therefore, it is important to protect and conserve its natural environment, and to appreciate its beauty and role in the ecosystem.