Home › Aves › Dicruridae › White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)
SPECIES PROFILE
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)
Dicrurus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Open woodlands scrub forests
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Dicruridae
GENUS
Dicrurus
📋 Description
SIZE
24-26 cm long 30-40 g
COLORATION
Black with white belly forked tail
ADAPTATIONS
Agile flight for hawking insects perches prominently
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open woodlands scrub forests
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-4 eggs in cup nests incubated 14-16 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects small vertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss pesticide use
💡 Interesting Facts
1
White-bellied Sentinels: White-bellied Drongos hawk with 35-gram bodies catching 10 grams of insects daily in Kerala's woodlands. Their white bellies contrast black bodies.
2
Scrub Perchers: These drongos cover 2000 sq km in Tamil Nadu's forests mobbing predators. Deforestation threatens their perches.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala
Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Woodlands ensure visibility for spotting drongos
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch white-bellied drongos perched hawking insects
