Lesser racket-tailed drongo

Lesser racket-tailed drongo
D. r. tectirostris Pokhara, Nepal
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Dicruridae
Genus:	Dicrurus
Species:	D. remifer
Binomial name
Dicrurus remifer (Temminck, 1823)

The lesser racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus remifer) is a species of bird in the family Dicruridae.^{[2]: 280 [3]} It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is near the edge or inside of subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.^[2]: 282

Description

Incubating bird at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand

The drongo is about 25–27·5 cm long, excluding outermost tail feathers (c. 30–40 cm to end of tail); average weight of males is between 39–49 grams while females are between 35·5–44 grams.^{[citation needed]} Its feathers are black with a bluish metallic gloss. The end of its tail has long shafts more than 50 centimetres (20 in).^[2]: 282

It can be confused with the greater racket-tailed drongo, but the latter doesn't have a crest on head and its tail is square cut.^[2]: 282

Taxonomy

There are 4 recognised subspecies of lesser racket-tailed drongo:^[4]

• D. r. tectirostris (Hodgson, 1836) – lower Himalayas from N India (Uttarakhand) E to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, NE Bangladesh, S China (SE Xizang, W & S Yunnan and SW Guangxi), Myanmar (except extreme S), N Thailand, N Laos and N Vietnam (S to Huê).
• D. r. peracensis (E. C. S. Baker, 1918) – S Myanmar (Tenasserim) and SW & S Thailand S to N Peninsular Malaysia (S Selangor and S Pahang), S Laos and S Vietnam (S to S Annam).
• D. r. lefoli (Delacour & Jabouille, 1928) – mountains of S Cambodia (Cardamom and Elephant Ranges).
• D. r. remifer (Temminck, 1823) – Sumatra (Barisan Range and Batak Highlands) and W Java.

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Dicrurus remifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22706976A94100858. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706976A94100858.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Jeyarajasingam, Allen (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (2nd ed.). New York, United States: Oxford University Press, Incorporated. p. 280, 282. ISBN 978-0-19-963942-7.
3. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Orioles, drongos, fantails". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
4. "Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus remifer)". www.hbw.com. Handbook of The Bird of the World. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

External links