Crested drongo
| Crested drongo | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Dicruridae |
| Genus: | Dicrurus |
| Species: | D. forficatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Dicrurus forficatus (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
| Subspecies | |
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The crested drongo (Dicrurus forficatus) is a species of bird in the Dicruridae family. This bird is black with a bluish-green sheen, a distinctive crest on the forehead and a forked tail. There are two subspecies; D. f. forficatus is endemic to Madagascar and D. f. potior, which is smaller, is found on the Comoro Islands. Its habitat is lowland forests, both dry and humid, and open savannah country. It is a common bird and the IUCN has listed it as "least concern".
Description
The adult male and female are almost entirely black, with a blue-green sheen. The distinctive crest consists of elongated feathers on the forehead. The forked tail is also distinctive of the adult birds.[2]
Subspecies (list)
Dicrurus forficatus potior is much larger and has broader tail feathers.[2]
Distribution and Habitat
The nominated race is endemic to Madagascar, and found throughout the island, and some of the larger inshore islands including Nosy-Bé. The Dicrurus forficatus potior subspecies on only found on the Comoro Islands.[2]
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and dry savanna, typically below 1,000 meters.[2]
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Dicrurus forficatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Safford, Roger; Hawkins, Frank (25 July 2013). The Birds of Africa: Volume VIII. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. pp. 848–849. ISBN 9780713665321.