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ForestSmall · 30 g
ID tip
Drongo cuckoos are recognisable by their glossy blue to purple or greenish black plumage, their forked tail with slight narrow white bars, their white patch at the base of the feathers and their thin horizontal white stripe in the underwing that is only seen when in flight. The species does not show any sexual dimorphism. The bill is black with an orange mouth lining, the tarsi and toes are black, blueish grey and at times pinkish. Juveniles are distinguishable from adult birds by white spots found across their body (head, wing and breast) and presence of a few brown feather.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is June, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
The map shades 4 countries with regular records, and 8 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Nepal, Laos, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Tanzania, Vietnam, ZZ.
About the Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
The fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo is a species of cuckoo that resembles the Black drongo. It is found mainly in hill forests in peninsular India and Sri Lanka although some specimens are known from the Himalayan foothills. It can be identified by its metallic black plumage, straight beak, white barred vent, forked tail and white spot on the back of the head. The fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo's song has been described as a series of 5 or 6 whistling "pip-pip-pip-pip-pip-" notes rising in pitch with each "pip". They are also known for their drongo-like calls such as "quip" calls in flight and "wheep-wheep" call with a higher second note.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Moluccan Drongo-CuckooSurniculus musschenbroekiThe Moluccan drongo-cuckoo is a species of cuckoo.
Philippine Drongo-CuckooSurniculus velutinusThe Philippine drongo-cuckoo is a bird of the cuckoo family found only in the Philippines.
Square-tailed Drongo-CuckooSurniculus lugubrisThe square-tailed drongo-cuckoo can be easily distinguished by its downcurved beak and the white barred vent and outer undertail, and the tail only notched with slightly flared tips.
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