From Opus

Photo by Goyter
Andamans, India, November 2012

Dicrurus andamanensis

[edit] Identification

28 - 29cm.

• Glossy black plumage
• Deeply notched tail with curled outer feathers
• Large black bill with sharply hooked upper mandible
• Brown or blackish eye

Sexes similar, females are slightly smaller. Juveniles are browner and less glossy.

[edit] Similar species

Lacks rackets of bigger Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. The bill also looks more swollen.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to the Andaman Islands (including Great Coco and Table Island, administrated by Burma).
A common restricted-range species.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

• D. a. andamanensis (Small Andaman Drongo):

• on all main islands of the Andaman Islands (India)

• D. a. dicruriformis (Large Andaman Drongo):

• Great Coco Island and Table Island (Burma). Larger than the nominate form.

Shows apparent cline of decreasing size from north to south and so possibly better treated as monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Moist lowland forests, forest edge, open forest and scrub-jungle.

[edit] Behaviour

A gregarious species, often in groups of up to 20 birds. Often forages with other species like Asian Fairy-Bluebird, White-headed Starling, Small Minivet or Andaman Cuckoo-shrike.
Feeds on insects which are caught by aerial hawking.
Breeding season in April and May. The nest is a shallow cup made of fine dry twigs. It's placed 4.5 - 9m above the ground in a large tree. Lays 2 or 3 eggs.
A resident species.

[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. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

• List of references

[edit] External Links