From Opus

Dicrurus aldabranus

[edit] Identification

23cm. The only drongo in its range.

• Entirely deep lustrous black plumage with dark dull greenish-blue gloss
• Long frontal feathers curving forwards and slightly upwards
• Long, moderately forked tail
• Red eyes
• Very strong and slightly hooked black bill

Sexes similar. Immatures are grey-brown above, have white uppertail-coverts and most feathers with buffy terminal edges.

[edit] Similar species

Differs from Crested Drongo in having a reduced frontal crest.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to the Aldabra Atoll in the southwestern Seychelles.
Has a very small range and an estimated population of about 1500 birds.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.
Recent studies indicate that its closest relative is the Crested Drongo.

[edit] Habitat

Found in dense scrub, coastal forest and mangroves.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a round cup made from intertwined fine plant fibres bound with spider webs, situated in a fork near the end of a thin horizontal branch in a tall tree. 1-3 eggs are laid and incubated for 16-18 days; the young fledge after 15-19 days. Juveniles are dependent for at least several weeks after fledging, and then remain with their parents until at least the following breeding season.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects and small vertebrates such as geckos or lizards.
Perches upright with tail hanging vertically below. Hawks insects on the wing while gliding from observation post.

[edit] 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. BirdLife International

• List of references

[edit] External Links