Is this ratchet-tailed treepie? (2 Viewers)

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2007

• #1

These photos was taken in Yunnan Province, Southwest China. Because this species is rarely seen in China, we can't make sure whether it is. We have seen four birds in total, and this bird is as big as the black drongo. But if it is ratchet-tailed treepie, why there are only two pairs of "thorn" on its tail feathers? Is it juvenile? Could someone be nice enough to help me? Thank you!

 

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lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2007

• #2

I would say this bird is a Racket-tailed Treepie - Crypsirina temia and not Ratchet-tailed Treepie - Temnurus temnurus.

It seems to have a rather braod uncurved bill, and the tail feathers look to be too broad for Ratchet-tailed.

The tail may be shorter as it is a juvenile. It would also explain the dark eye (they are light blue in adults).

Sean

Hiroshima

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/s...esult&Bird_ID=2350&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

 

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 19, 2007

• #3

Thank you very much, lostinjapan. But if they are racket-tailed, why all four birds show the same strange tail shape? And racket-tailed treepie's beak is very thick,but these birds' bills are relatively thin; and the tail tip is also different from racket-tailed's. Meanwhile, racket-tailed treepie is also very rare in China, and we had not seen any adult racket-tailed treepies in that area. so we don't think they are racket-tailed. Maybe they are some kinds of drongos?

 

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Aug 19, 2007

• #4

Hey Baboon

I know both species of those Treepie are rare in Southern China.

I am not sure that it is either species, as I have never seen either, but I am pretty sure it is not a species of Drongo. Certainly no Drongo has that kind of tail shape in China as far as I know.

The tail shape best fits Grey Treepie..but I don't think there is much likelihood of four melanistic Grey Treepie.

Someone with more experience out there may have the answer!

 

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2007

• #5

Thank you, lostinjapan. It seems that only some birders from Southeast Asia may answer the question. Could someone help me?

 

J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2007

• #6

Could these be moulting drongos? In Hong Kong, drongos with partly-grown tails (in late summer) often show a similar odd-looking tail shape.

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/s...esult&Bird_ID=2228&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

I've never seen either of the -tailed treepies, but I would have expected them to look a bit bigger, bulkier and larger-billed.

Anyone out there with experience of treepies who can comment?

 

MKinHK

Mike Kilburn

• Aug 20, 2007

• #7

I agree with John that this is more likely to be a moulting Drongo, with the long tail feathers still growing out than any species of treepie.

Could you tell us what part of Yunnan you were in and what was the habitat?

My best guess is that this is either Crow-billed Drongo or Spangled Drongo, especially if the pix were taken in forest.

Cheers
Mike

 

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2007

• #8

I hadn't thought of that possibility. I was just assuming that all the feathers were tail feathers, but I guess what looks like tail feathers at the top is just the wings crossed, with the latter being tail feathers.

I bow to John and Mike's greater knowlede.

I din't think it quite fitted either of the black treepie species.

Sean

 

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 24, 2007

• #9

Thank all of you!
MKinHK, these photos were taken in Xishuang Banna, Southwest Yunnan. And the habitat was rainforest along the riverside, which was next to the road. And there were also many black drongos.
Lostinjapan, I'm sure they were all tail feathers, because when the birds were flying, the tail shapes were very obvious.
Could any one who has seen this kind of treepies before give me the answer? Thanks.

 

Hanno

Ho Ho Ho

• Aug 25, 2007

• #10

I am not even going to try and ID it, but I do have Racket-tailed Treepies around the house, and the jizz is all wrong. I have seen Ratchet-tailed a few times (they are not as common here in Vietnam) and again, it just doesn't feel "right".

 

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 25, 2007

• #11

Thank you! I now know they are moulting drongos, and maybe spangled drongos.

 

MKinHK

Mike Kilburn

• Aug 26, 2007

• #12

Hi Baboon

I saw a Spangled Drongo in my village on Friday morning and its bill was longer, more curved on the upper mandible, and more pointed.

As a result of this reminder Ithink your bird is most likely a Crow-billed Drongo.

Cheers
Mike K

 

baboon

Well-known member

• Aug 28, 2007

• #13

Thanks, Mike K. May be you are right!

 

Tom Tarrant

Bird and Wildlife Tour Guide

Opus Editor

• Aug 28, 2007

• #14

MKinHK said:

Hi Baboon

I saw a Spangled Drongo in my village on Friday morning and its bill was longer, more curved on the upper mandible, and more pointed.

As a result of this reminder Ithink your bird is most likely a Crow-billed Drongo.

Cheers
Mike K

Click to expand...

I have seen Ratchet-tailed Treepie in Thailand but I suspect this is a drongo, I've also had moulting Spangled Drongos here in Australia with similar tail-patterns.

Tom