Fall Find

This bird was spotted on our trip to Indonesia while on Komodo Island.  We didn't see many komodos here, but this fellow was worth it.  This is a wallacean drongo.   It seems as unique to me as each of the students I have this year.  They each bring such sweetness and beauty to our environment. 

• Dull blue-black plumage with greenish gloss
• Well developed feathers at base of bill extending forwards over culmen
• Long and deeply forked tail, tips slightly upcurved
• Thick, heavy and highly arched bill, ending in strong downward curve
• Red bill

Sexes similar but females slightly smaller. Juveniles have a dark brown eye.
The different subspecies differ mainly in size, bill size and glossiness. The only drongo in its range. Feeds on insects. Perches under canopy, sallying from a branch to seize insects.
Usually seen singly or in pairs, on Sumba sometimes in bigger groups of up to 10 birds. Often near groups of Crab-eating Macaques on Sumba.
Only a few data about breeding on Flores. One nest was 10m above the ground, eggs were laid from October to December.
A resident species.

Wallacean Drongo

Dicrurus densus


The Wallacean Drongo or Greater Wallacean Drongo (Dicrurus densus) is a species of bird in the Dicruridae family. It can be found in the countries of Indonesia and East Timor. Contrary to the independence of East Timor, the Wallacean Drongo continues to be considered an endemic. It breeds in both countries. Its natural are subtropical or tropical moist lowland , subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.