White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) – Complete detail

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) – Complete detail – updated. Description of White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens). Classification of White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens). Local name of White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) is Bhujanga. 

Habit and habitat of White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens). Generally, inhabits well-wooded deciduous tracts, bamboos, light forests, hill and plain, and avoids cultivation and treeless country as well as heavy evergreen forest. These birds are particularly found in bamboo and thin tree jungle.

The tail is long and deeply forked. Dicrurus caerulescens has a pale grey under plumage – from the head to the breast, and is white from the abdomen down. The fork of the tail is less deep than in the black Drongo which is often seen in the same habitats. Young black drongo’s can have a lot of white on the underside but it is usually scaly in appearance………… 

These are aggressive and fearless in nature. The breeding season is from February to July. The cup nest is similar to that of the black drongo, but is usually made up of more twigs and is well lined with grass. The average clutch consists of two to four eggs. Color of eggs is pale salmon colored with reddish blotches on the broad end, are laid in the nest which may be 20 to 30 feet high in the fork………….

Click here to view State wise list of Indian state birds (symbols) – updated

Description 

Size of White-bellied Drongo is between 22 cm to 25 cm including the tail. The Weight of adult is between 70 g. to 100 g. The White-bellied Drongo has dark grey upper plumage.

The tail is long and deeply forked. Dicrurus caerulescens has a pale grey under plumage – from the head to the breast, and is white from the abdomen down. The White-bellied Drongo is black without any glossy on the upper side and greyish on the throat and breast while the belly and vent are entirely white.

The fork of the tail is less deep than in the black Drongo which is often seen in the same habitats. Young black drongo’s can have a lot of white on the underside but it is usually scaly in appearance.

Classification

Common Name – White-bellied Drongo

Local Name – Bhujanga

Zoological Name – Dicrurus caerulescens

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Aves

Order – Passeriformes

Family – Dicruridae

Genus – Dicrurus

Conservational Status – Schedule – IV, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Distribution

Commonly found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This species is usually found in dry scrub or open forests. The distribution is restricted to peninsular India south of the Himalayas and to the west of the Gangetic delta bounded on the west by the Aravallis.

Habit and habitat

Generally, inhabits well-wooded deciduous tracts, bamboos, light forests, hill and plain, and avoids cultivation and treeless country as well as heavy evergreen forest.

These birds are particularly found in bamboo and thin tree jungles, and is usually to be met with about shady paths and small clearings in this.

Diet is mainly insectivorous, but it may invariably be seen probing into the blossoms of the Silk Cotton, Flame of the Forest and Coral trees for the sugary nectar they exude. They perch upright close to the tops of trees and capture insects in the air with short aerobatic sallies. Larger insects may be captured using their claws.

These are aggressive and fearless in nature. These are aggressive at the nest and will potential threats much larger than themselves.

Birds are often seen singly or in groups of 2 or 3 individuals. The cup nest is typically situated in a tree.

Click here to view State wise list of Indian state animals (symbols) – updated

The breeding season is from February to July. The cup nest is similar to that of the black drongo, but is usually made up of more twigs and is well lined with grass.

The average clutch consists of two to four eggs. Color of eggs is pale salmon colored with reddish blotches on the broad end, are laid in the nest which may be 20 to 30 feet high in the fork of a tree.