Aldabra drongo

Aldabra drongo
Aldabra drongo in Outer Islands, Seychelles
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Dicruridae
Genus:	Dicrurus
Species:	D. aldabranus
Binomial name
Dicrurus aldabranus (Ridgway, 1893)

The Aldabra drongo (Dicrurus aldabranus) is a species of

The appearance of this species is typical for drongos, with entirely black plumage, a heavy bill and a red eye. The tail is long and forked. Juvenile birds have a grey back, lighter blotched undersides and a brown eye. Its call is a harsh chuckle.^[2]

Its natural habitats are tropical mangrove forests and casuarina woodland and dense scrub.

Taxonomy

The Aldabra drongo was first described by Robert Ridgway in 1893.^[3] The closest relative to the Adabra drongo is the crested drongo.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Aldabra drongo is

The Aldabra drongo feeds primarily on insects and small geckos and lizards. When hunting insects, it will perch on a branch and catch the insects in mid-air. It may feed on the ground, however this behaviour is usually seen by juveniles who are unskilled in mid-air hunting.[5]

It is known for being a highly vocal bird, with a wide variety of calls. These calls appear to server a variety of communication needs, including a musical duet sung between male and female during mating, and an alarm call described as "ti-ti-you caw caw".^[5]

References