- general description
- appearance
- a medium-sized bird with a slender build and distinctive drongo-like appearance.
- it has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen.
- its long, deeply forked tail is a characteristic feature.
- the eyes are red, and the beak is black and slightly curved.
- size
- measures about 23-26 cm in length, including the tail.
- typically weighs around 35-50 grams.
- behavior
- known for its solitary and secretive nature.
- it often mimics the calls of drongos, which can confuse potential predators and competitors.
- primarily arboreal, it perches quietly in the mid to upper canopy.
- it has a melodious and repetitive call, often heard during the breeding season.
- appearance
- habitat
- range
- found across south asia and southeast asia, including india, sri lanka, bangladesh, myanmar, thailand, malaysia, indonesia, and the philippines.
- environment
- inhabits a variety of forested environments, including tropical and subtropical forests, secondary growth, and forest edges.
- prefers dense tree cover but can also be found in more open woodland areas.
- range
- diet
- primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers.
- also consumes small vertebrates like lizards and occasionally fruits.
- breeding
- nesting
- practices brood parasitism, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly those of drongos and bulbuls.
- the host species incubates the eggs and raises the drongo cuckoo chick, often to the detriment of its own offspring.
- reproduction
- breeding season varies across its range but generally occurs during the warm months when food is abundant.
- female lays 1-2 eggs in the host’s nest.
- the drongo cuckoo chick hatches earlier and grows faster than the host chicks, often outcompeting them for food.
- nesting
- conservation status
-
currently not considered endangered or vulnerable.
-
listed as least concern by the iucn due to its wide range and stable population.
interesting facts
-
- the drongo cuckoo’s mimicry of drongo calls is an example of aggressive mimicry, where it uses deception to gain an advantage in its environment.
- its brood parasitism strategy allows it to reproduce without the need to build a nest or care for its young, which can increase its reproductive success.
- despite being a brood parasite, the drongo cuckoo is highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of forested habitats.