Adult © Rajesh Radhakrishnan eBird S33759867 Macaulay Library ML 45847041
Juvenile © Harshith JV
Adult © Vinoba Anand
Adult © Bindu K
Adult © Nishant Shah
+ 2
© Adithya Bhat

Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus dicruroides

Sign in to see your badges

Identification

POWERED BY MERLIN

Glossy small black cuckoo with a forked tail. Juvenile has a galaxy-like smattering of white spots all over the body. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo has a less prominently-forked tail; note less difference in length of outermost tail feathers. Adults may be confused with drongos, but are lighter-billed and smaller, with distinctly white-barred undertail. Widespread, found in forests and scrubby plains from lowlands up into foothills and mountainous areas, but much more often heard than seen, typically sitting still in the middle and upper levels of forest; song is an extremely loud ascending series of whistles. Lays its eggs in the nests of babblers, bulbuls, and shrikes.

POWERED BY MERLIN