- Dicrurus andamanensis
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.
Similar species
Lacks rackets of bigger Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. The bill also looks more swollen.
Distribution
Endemic to the Andaman Islands (including Great Coco and Table Island, administrated by Burma).
A common restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
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.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests, forest edge, open forest and scrub-jungle.
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.
References
- 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.
- 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) Andaman Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Andaman_Drongo
