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Difference between revisions of "Black Drongo" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Black_Drongo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Chaiyan|Chaiyan}}<br />Central [[Thailand]], December 2002]]
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[[Image:37319Drongo Black.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|jasnjohn|jasnjohn}}<br />Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Malaysia, June 2006]]
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'''Alternative name: King Crow'''
 
;[[:Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] macrocercus
 
;[[:Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] macrocercus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Deeply forked long tail with slightly upturned tips distinctive. Plumage black with slight gloss.
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27 - 31cm. A common drongo of south and southeast Asia:
 +
* Entirely semi-glossy black plumage
 +
* Long, deeply forked and well-flared tail
 +
* Small white spot at gape (rictal spot)
 +
* Dull red eyes
 +
Sexes similar, females are slightly smaller. Juveniles are blackish-brown.
 +
====Similar species====
 +
[[Ashy Drongo]] is amller and slimmer and has a longer and narrower-splayed tail. It has also brighter red eyes.<br />
 +
The fork-tailed form of [[Asian Drongo-Cuckoo]] can be quite similar.
 +
[[Image:1568black drongo juvP9208385.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Neil|Neil}}<br />[[Hong Kong]], [[China]], September 2006]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
{| cellpadding="5"
 
{| cellpadding="5"
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[[Image:Map-Black Drongo.jpg|450px|left]]
 
[[Image:Map-Black Drongo.jpg|450px|left]]
 
|
 
|
The [[India]]n subcontinent and [[China]] through South-East [[Asia]] discontinuously to [[Java]] and [[Bali]].
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The [[India]]n subcontinent and [[China]] through South-East [[Asia]] discontinuously to [[Java]] and [[Bali]].<br />
 +
Introduced in Northern [[Marianas]] ([[Rota]] Island) from where it colonized [[Guam]].
 
|-
 
|-
 
|<font size=4>Legend</font><br />
 
|<font size=4>Legend</font><br />
Line 17: Line 28:
 
<font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup></font>
 
<font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup></font>
 
|}
 
|}
 
[[Image:1568black drongo juvP9208385.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Neil|Neil}}<br />[[Hong Kong]], [[China]], September 2006]]
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
 
There are 7 subspecies.
 
There are 7 subspecies.
* ''D. m. albirictus'' from south-eastern [[Iran]] to [[Afghanistan]] and northern [[India]]
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* ''D. m. albirictus'' in the [[Himalayas]] from eastern [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] east to northern [[Burma]] and southeast [[Tibet]], south to central [[India]]. Wintering in southern [[India]], southern [[Burma]] and northern [[Thailand]]
* ''D. m. macrocercus'' in Peninsular India
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* ''D. m. macrocercus'' in Peninsular [[India]]
 
* ''D. m. minor'' in [[Sri Lanka]]
 
* ''D. m. minor'' in [[Sri Lanka]]
* ''D. m. cathoecus'' in [[China]], northern [[Myanmar]], northern [[Thailand]], [[Laos]], northern [[Vietnam]] and [[Malaysia]]
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* ''D. m. cathoecus'' in [[China]], northern [[Burma]], northern [[Thailand]], [[Laos]], northern [[Vietnam]] and Laos. Winters south to peninsular [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]].
* ''D. m. thai'' in southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and ssouthern Vietnam
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* ''D. m. thai'' in southern [[Burma]], southern [[Thailand]], southern [[Vietnam]] and probably eastern [[Cambodia]].
 
* ''D. m. harterti'' in [[Taiwan]]
 
* ''D. m. harterti'' in [[Taiwan]]
 
* ''D. m. javanus'' in [[Java]] and [[Bali]]
 
* ''D. m. javanus'' in [[Java]] and [[Bali]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Open country and ricefields.
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Open country and farmland with scattered trees. Also in villages, parks, gardens and towns.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Gregarious, gathering in small groups. Hawks for insects from open perches, including small trees and telephone wires. Forms communal roosts.
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Gregarious, gathering in small groups. Hawks for insects from open perches, including small trees and telephone wires. Forms communal roosts.<br />
 +
A solitary, highly territorial nester. Defends its nest against bigger birds like crows or raptors. The nest is a broad shallow cup, made of twigs, rootlets, fine grass stems and other vegetable matter. It's placed 4 - 7m above the ground in a tree. Lays 2 - 5 eggs.
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-RasmussenAnderton05}}
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Revision as of 17:27, 10 August 2010

Photo by jasnjohn
Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Malaysia, June 2006

Alternative name: King Crow

Dicrurus macrocercus

Identification

27 - 31cm. A common drongo of south and southeast Asia:

  • Entirely semi-glossy black plumage
  • Long, deeply forked and well-flared tail
  • Small white spot at gape (rictal spot)
  • Dull red eyes

Sexes similar, females are slightly smaller. Juveniles are blackish-brown.

Similar species

Ashy Drongo is amller and slimmer and has a longer and narrower-splayed tail. It has also brighter red eyes.
The fork-tailed form of Asian Drongo-Cuckoo can be quite similar.

Juvenile
Photo by Neil
Hong Kong, China, September 2006

Distribution

Map-Black Drongo.jpg

The Indian subcontinent and China through South-East Asia discontinuously to Java and Bali.
Introduced in Northern Marianas (Rota Island) from where it colonized Guam.

Legend

all year
summer
winter
Maps/Texts consulted2

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

There are 7 subspecies.

Habitat

Open country and farmland with scattered trees. Also in villages, parks, gardens and towns.

Behaviour

Gregarious, gathering in small groups. Hawks for insects from open perches, including small trees and telephone wires. Forms communal roosts.
A solitary, highly territorial nester. Defends its nest against bigger birds like crows or raptors. The nest is a broad shallow cup, made of twigs, rootlets, fine grass stems and other vegetable matter. It's placed 4 - 7m above the ground in a tree. Lays 2 - 5 eggs.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
  3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

Recommended Citation

External Links

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