- Dicrurus aldabranus
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.
Similar species
Differs from Crested Drongo in having a reduced frontal crest.
Distribution
Endemic to the Aldabra Atoll in the southwestern Seychelles.
Has a very small range and an estimated population of about 1500 birds.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Recent studies indicate that its closest relative is the Crested Drongo.
Habitat
Found in dense scrub, coastal forest and mangroves.
Behaviour
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.
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.
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
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Aldabra Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Aldabra_Drongo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
