(Picture of adult with juvenile. References updated) |
(Picture of adult & juvenile subspecies. Imp sizes. Picture placements. Links. References updated) |
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| + | [[Image:DSCF6747 ashy drongo.jpg|thumb|450px|right|nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|horukuru|horukuru}}<br/ >Cibodas Garden, Gede, [[Java]] Island, May 2008]] | ||
'''Alternative names: Pale Drongo, Grey Drongo''' | '''Alternative names: Pale Drongo, Grey Drongo''' | ||
| − | + | ||
;[[:Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] leucophaeus | ;[[:Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] leucophaeus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Size: | + | [[Image:Ashy_Drongo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|ssp ''longicaudatus''<br />Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}<br/ >Himachal Pradesh, [[India]]]] |
| + | Size: 25·5–29 cm (10-11½ in). A variable drongo: | ||
* Relatively long and narrow-splayed tail | * Relatively long and narrow-splayed tail | ||
* Bright red eyes | * Bright red eyes | ||
* Mostly grey body plumage but highly variable from pale grey to almost black. See below for subspecies variations. | * Mostly grey body plumage but highly variable from pale grey to almost black. See below for subspecies variations. | ||
| − | * No | + | * No [[Dictionary_P-S#R|Rictal]] spot |
| − | Sexes alike, females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles are browner than adult with some white fringing on belly to undertail- | + | Sexes alike, females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles are browner than adult with some white fringing on belly to undertail-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]. |
| − | [[ | ||
====Similar species==== | ====Similar species==== | ||
Especially ''longicaudatus'' and ''nigrescens'' can be confused with [[Black Drongo]] but note brighter red eye, longer tail and the absence of a rictal spot. | Especially ''longicaudatus'' and ''nigrescens'' can be confused with [[Black Drongo]] but note brighter red eye, longer tail and the absence of a rictal spot. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:Ashy drongo2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|ssp ''leucogenis''<br />Photo by {{user|scottishdude|scottishdude}}<br />Middle of [[China]], June 2008 ]] | ||
{| cellpadding="5" | {| cellpadding="5" | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | |||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | [[Image:DSCF8816 ashy drongo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|ssp stigmatops<br />Photo by {{user|horukuru|horukuru}}<br/ >Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, [[Borneo]], [[Malaysia]], August 2008]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Ashy drongos.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult and juvenile, subspecies ''stigmatops''<br />Photo by {{user|darwin1601|darwin1601}}<br />Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, [[Borneo]]]] | ||
There are 14 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | There are 14 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''D. l. longicaudatus'': Eastern [[Afghanistan]] to Sikkim; winters to southern [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] ('''Indian Grey Drongo''') | *''D. l. longicaudatus'': Eastern [[Afghanistan]] to Sikkim; winters to southern [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] ('''Indian Grey Drongo''') | ||
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::* plumage is black with slight gloss above and darker below. Resembles [[Black Drongo]] in shape andd proportions but is never as black. | ::* plumage is black with slight gloss above and darker below. Resembles [[Black Drongo]] in shape andd proportions but is never as black. | ||
*''D. l. leucogenis'': Manchuria and eastern [[China]]; winters to [[Indochina]] ('''White-cheeked Grey Drongo''') | *''D. l. leucogenis'': Manchuria and eastern [[China]]; winters to [[Indochina]] ('''White-cheeked Grey Drongo''') | ||
| − | |||
::* pale ashy grey with white cheek patch, including area surrounding eyes. | ::* pale ashy grey with white cheek patch, including area surrounding eyes. | ||
*''D. l. salangensis'': South-eastern [[China]] and southern [[Thailand]]; winters to Hainan | *''D. l. salangensis'': South-eastern [[China]] and southern [[Thailand]]; winters to Hainan | ||
::* resembles ''leucogenis'' but white is confined to area surrounding eye. | ::* resembles ''leucogenis'' but white is confined to area surrounding eye. | ||
*''D. l. innexus'': Hainan (southern [[China]]) | *''D. l. innexus'': Hainan (southern [[China]]) | ||
| − | ::* heavier and deeper bill than all other subspecies, lores and ear-coverts more or less whitish | + | ::* heavier and deeper bill than all other subspecies, [[Topography#Heads|lores]] and ear-coverts more or less whitish |
*''D. l. stigmatops'': Mountains of northern [[Borneo]] | *''D. l. stigmatops'': Mountains of northern [[Borneo]] | ||
::* similar to ''mouhoti'' but smaller and eye orange-red, white of lores extends around eye | ::* similar to ''mouhoti'' but smaller and eye orange-red, white of lores extends around eye | ||
| Line 56: | Line 58: | ||
::* similar to ''stigmatops'' but with smaller white loral spot | ::* similar to ''stigmatops'' but with smaller white loral spot | ||
*''D. l. periophthalmicus'': Simeulue Island and adjacent Mentawi Islands (off [[Sumatra]]) | *''D. l. periophthalmicus'': Simeulue Island and adjacent Mentawi Islands (off [[Sumatra]]) | ||
| − | ::* pale blue grey like nominate but with | + | ::* pale blue grey like nominate but with large white facial patch |
*''D. l. siberu'': Siberut Island (off [[Sumatra]]) | *''D. l. siberu'': Siberut Island (off [[Sumatra]]) | ||
::* slightly darker than ''periophthalmicus'' | ::* slightly darker than ''periophthalmicus'' | ||
*''D. l. leucophaeus'': [[Java]], [[Bali]], Lombok, Palawan, Calamian and Balabac islands | *''D. l. leucophaeus'': [[Java]], [[Bali]], Lombok, Palawan, Calamian and Balabac islands | ||
::* Ashy grey plumage. dark on throat and underparts with velvety dark frontal band and blackish chin | ::* Ashy grey plumage. dark on throat and underparts with velvety dark frontal band and blackish chin | ||
| + | |||
Two subspecies ''Dicrurus l. celaenus'' and ''Dicrurus l. palawensis'' are not recognised by all authorities.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | Two subspecies ''Dicrurus l. celaenus'' and ''Dicrurus l. palawensis'' are not recognised by all authorities.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
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Mangroves, beach scrub, plantation, the forest edges, wooded gardens. Much more confined to forest than [[Black Drongo]]. Occurs up to 3000m in the [[Himalayas]]. | Mangroves, beach scrub, plantation, the forest edges, wooded gardens. Much more confined to forest than [[Black Drongo]]. Occurs up to 3000m in the [[Himalayas]]. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Found on exposed perch from which it hawks for flying insects, takes sometimes also small vertebrates. Also dives and climbs while pursuing insects in mid-air. | + | ====Diet==== |
| − | Breeding season May to June in the [[Himalayas]], April to June in [[China]], March to May in [[Sumatra]]. A territorial species, acting | + | Found on exposed perch from which it hawks for flying insects, takes sometimes also small vertebrates. Also dives and climbs while pursuing insects in mid-air. |
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Breeding season May to June in the [[Himalayas]], April to June in [[China]], March to May in [[Sumatra]]. A territorial species, acting aggressively towards possible predators. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The nest is a shallow cup made of vegetable fibres like rootlets, grass stems or leaves. It's placed usually high up in a tree. Lays 2 - 4 eggs. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Distinct series of mewing calls. The different subspecies have different songs. | Distinct series of mewing calls. The different subspecies have different songs. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-RasmussenAnderton05}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 23:50, 26 December 2017
Alternative names: Pale Drongo, Grey Drongo
- Dicrurus leucophaeus
Identification
Size: 25·5–29 cm (10-11½ in). A variable drongo:
- Relatively long and narrow-splayed tail
- Bright red eyes
- Mostly grey body plumage but highly variable from pale grey to almost black. See below for subspecies variations.
- No Rictal spot
Sexes alike, females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles are browner than adult with some white fringing on belly to undertail-coverts.
Similar species
Especially longicaudatus and nigrescens can be confused with Black Drongo but note brighter red eye, longer tail and the absence of a rictal spot.
Distribution
 |
Breeding in the Himalayas from east Afghanistan east over India, Nepal, Bhutan and China through south-east Asia to Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bali, Lombok and southwest Philippines. Northern populations winter south to tropical latitudes. |
| Legend • all year |
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 14 subspecies[1]:
- D. l. longicaudatus: Eastern Afghanistan to Sikkim; winters to southern India and Sri Lanka (Indian Grey Drongo)
- head and upperparts almost black, long and deeply forked tail
- D. l. hopwoodi: Eastern Himalayas to Burma and southern China; winters to Indochina and eastern India (Assam Grey Drongo)
- unglossed blue-grey, but variable in size and colour
- blue grey above and pale soft ashy grey below, ear-coverts lighter grey
- like mouhoti but smaller and paler
- plumage is black with slight gloss above and darker below. Resembles Black Drongo in shape andd proportions but is never as black.
- pale ashy grey with white cheek patch, including area surrounding eyes.
- resembles leucogenis but white is confined to area surrounding eye.
- D. l. innexus: Hainan (southern China)
- heavier and deeper bill than all other subspecies, lores and ear-coverts more or less whitish
- D. l. stigmatops: Mountains of northern Borneo
- similar to mouhoti but smaller and eye orange-red, white of lores extends around eye
- D. l. batakensis: Northern Sumatra
- similar to phaedrus but a little darker with grey lores
- D. l. phaedrus: Southern Sumatra
- similar to stigmatops but with smaller white loral spot
- D. l. periophthalmicus: Simeulue Island and adjacent Mentawi Islands (off Sumatra)
- pale blue grey like nominate but with large white facial patch
- D. l. siberu: Siberut Island (off Sumatra)
- slightly darker than periophthalmicus
- Ashy grey plumage. dark on throat and underparts with velvety dark frontal band and blackish chin
Two subspecies Dicrurus l. celaenus and Dicrurus l. palawensis are not recognised by all authorities.[1]
Habitat
Adult with juvenile, ssp longicaudatus
Photo by aloktewari
Hill Station Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India, July 2012
Photo by aloktewari
Hill Station Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India, July 2012
Mangroves, beach scrub, plantation, the forest edges, wooded gardens. Much more confined to forest than Black Drongo. Occurs up to 3000m in the Himalayas.
Behaviour
Diet
Found on exposed perch from which it hawks for flying insects, takes sometimes also small vertebrates. Also dives and climbs while pursuing insects in mid-air.
Breeding
Breeding season May to June in the Himalayas, April to June in China, March to May in Sumatra. A territorial species, acting aggressively towards possible predators.
The nest is a shallow cup made of vegetable fibres like rootlets, grass stems or leaves. It's placed usually high up in a tree. Lays 2 - 4 eggs.
Vocalisation
Distinct series of mewing calls. The different subspecies have different songs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Ashy Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ashy_Drongo
External Links
