Alternative name: Greater Wallacean Drongo (densus)
- Dicrurus densus
Identification
28 - 38cm.
- Dull blue-black plumage with greenish gloss
- Well developed feathers at base of bill extending forwards over culmen
- Long and deeply forked tail, tips slightly upcurved
- Thick, heavy and highly arched bill, ending in strong downward curve
- Red bill
Sexes similar but females slightly smaller. Juveniles have a dark brown eye.
The different subspecies differ mainly in size, bill size and glossiness.
The only drongo in its range.
Distribution
Found in the Lesser Sundas and southeast Moluccas, Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
Fairly common and widespread but some races have a very restricted range and few data is available for some of them.
Taxonomy
Six subspecies recognized:
- D. d. vicinus on Lombok
- D. d. bimaensis on Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Pantar, Alor and Gunungapi
- D. d. sumbae on Sumba
- D. d. densus on Rote, Timor, Wetar and Sermata
- D. d. kuehni on Tanimbar Islands
- D. d. megalornis on Gorong Island, Watubela Islands and Kai Islands
Has been considered conspecific with Hair-crested Drongo.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests, mangrove forests and montanes. Occurs from sea-level to montane forest (up to 1650m on Flores)
Behaviour
Feeds on insects. Perches under canopy, sallying from a branch to seize insects.
Usually seen singly or in pairs, on Sumba sometimes in bigger groups of up to 10 birds. Often near groups of Crab-eating Macaques on Sumba.
Only a few data about breeding on Flores. One nest was 10m above the ground, eggs were laid from October to December.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Wallacean Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 31 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Wallacean_Drongo
