GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO

 

Photographed at Dong Nai Nature Reserve, Vietnam, May 2024.

   (902)                  GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO                 Dicrurus paradiseus

VIETNAM                  15

The greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is a medium-sized Asian bird which is distinctive in having elongated outer tail feathers with webbing restricted to the tips. They are placed along with other drongos in the family Dicruridae. They are conspicuous in the forest habitats often perching in the open and by attracting attention with a wide range of loud calls that include perfect imitations of many other birds. 

BLACK DRONGO

 

Photographed near Dong Nai Nature Reserve, Vietnam, May 2024.

   (338*)                     BLACK DRONGO                    Dicrurus macrocercus

VIETNAM                     6

The black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. It feeds on insects, and is common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines. Often aggressive towards other birds.

Photographed in early morning light.

BLACK DRONGO

 

(*338)           BLACK DRONGO              Dicrurus macrocercus

CAMBODIA

28 cm. Range from sw Iran through India and Sri Lanka to southern China and Indonesia. Common in open agricultural districts and light forest. While bee keepers don't like them, because they eat the bees, farmers sometimes erect artificial perches to attract them to control insects.

ASHY DRONGO

 

Photographed at Arey Ksat, Cambodia, November 2023

(*  838)                 ASHY DRONGO              Dicrurus leucophaeus 

CAMBODIA                 

Predominantly in mangroves, and open ground with fairly close trees that provide sites for foraging insects; migrants tend to occur more in parkland and gardens. 28 cm. Resident from Afghanistan eastwards through S China and Southeast Asia to Palawan, Borneo, Java, Bali and Lombok; migrant to Southeast Asia, including Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.

The Hainan/White-cheeked/White-lored (Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis) is a subspecies of the Ashy Drongo.

BRONZED DRONGO

Photographed at Fraser's Hill, Malaysia, April 2017

1175                   BRONZED DRONGO              Dicrurus aeneus

MALAYSIA            88

Broad-leafed evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forest, forest edge, secondary growth, up to 2.,135 m. 22-23.5 cm. Common resident across SE Asia.

ASHY DRONGO

Photographed in Langkawi, April 2017

(*   838)                 ASHY DRONGO              Dicrurus leucophaeus 

MALAYSIA                  31

Predominantly in mangroves, and open ground with fairly close trees that provide sites for foraging insects; migrants tend to occur more in parkland and gardens. 28 cm. Resident from Afghanistan eastwards through S China and Southeast Asia to Palawan, Borneo, Java, Bali and Lombok; migrant to Southeast Asia, including Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.

GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO

Photographed on Langkawi, March 2017

(*  902)              GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO                Dicrurus paradiseus

MALAYSIA                 13

Seen in the canopy and middle storey of lowland evergreen forest from extreme lowland evergreen rainforest from extreme lowlands to c. 850 m, and in mangroves, tree plantations, parkland with abundant trees and secondary woodland. 32-57 cm. Resident from Indian sub-continent eastward to Hainan and through Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali.

BLACK DRONGO

Subspecies minor, March 2017

(*  338)            BLACK DRONGO                Dicrurus macrocercus

SRI LANKA               176

Found mainly in open areas, habitation and cultivation. 28 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in dry north-west and northern areas, uncommon in north-central areas; occasionally few birds occur in dry southern areas during winter migration period.

    

SRI LANKA DRONGO

March 2017

1093                   SRI LANKA DRONGO                Dicrurus (paradiseus) lophorhinus

SRI LANKA           107

Also known as Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, and considered as conspecific with Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. Found in tall forests. 32 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in wet zone up to adjoining wet mid hills (occasionally higher).

WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO

Photographed March 2017.

(*  1041)                WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO                   Dicrurus caerulescens

SRI LANKA              18

Found on forest fringes, wooded areas, plantations, gardens and towns. 24 cm. Common breeding resident in lowlands up to mid hills.

SPANGLED DRONGO

SPANGLED DRONGO                   Dicrurus hottentottus

Found in moist broadleaved forests. 32 cm. Quite widespread resident, fairly common. 

NOTE:  Spangled Drongo D bracteatus is considered conspecific with Hair-crested Drongo D hottenttottus known as Spangled Drongo.

WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO

Photographed in Chitwen, Nepal, March 2017

1041               WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO                     Dicrurus caerulescens

NEPAL          129

Found in open forest and well-wooded areas. 24 cm. Locally fairly common and quite widespread resident.

DRONGO CUCKOO

(see   862)           DRONGO CUCKOO      Surniculus lugubris

AUSTRALIA (Cocos Islands)              666

Found in broad-leafed evergreen and deciduous forest, secondary growth, occasionally parks, gardens, mangroves. 24.5 cm. Breeds N, NE Indian subcontinent, S India, Sri Lanka, SE Tibet, W and southern China, Greater Sundas, Philippines, Sulawesi, N Moluccas; northern population winter to south, Sumatra.

Note: first Australian record.

GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO

Subspecies platurus photographed in Singapore November 2016

902                  GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO              Dicrurus paradiseus

SINGAPORE               (46)

Common resident of primary and secondary rainforests, forest edge, scrub and old plantations. 34 cm (+ 30 cm tail). Distribution: much of Indian sub-continent, S China, mainland Southeast Asia, Thai-Malay Peninsula and Greater Sundas.

WALLACEAN DRONGO

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016

(874)              WALLACEAN DRONGO                   Dicrurus densus 

INDONESIA (Bali)         (97)        

Found in a variety of wooded habitats, from tall primary forest to disturbed areas and along roadsides with some large trees; sometimes seen n nearby plantations. 32 cm. Distribution: Indonesia and Timor Leste; widespread common resident throughout Nusa Tenggara.

HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO

Photographed Nusa Penida, Indonesia October 2016 

(872)              HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO                    Dicrurus hottentottus  

INDONESIA (Nusa Penida)          (95)        

Forest bird that prefers secondary forest, clearings and dense regrowth; occurs from lowlands up to 1,700 m on Sulawesi. 31 cm. Distribution: Oriental region, East Asia; fairly common resident in Kalimantan, east Java, Bali, Sulawesi and some smaller islands.