Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
Surniculus dicruroides
Introduction
Cuckoo species (genus Surniculus) resembling the Black drongo in appearance. Inhabits hill forests across peninsular India and Sri Lanka, with some records from Himalayan foothills. Found in woodland, scrub jungle, plantations, orchards, and plains at elevations from 200m to 2,600m. Primary distinguishing trait is its drongo-mimicking appearance, suspected to aid in brood parasitism. Secondary trait is its complex vocal repertoire including whistling songs and drongo-like calls. Classified as Least Concern on IUCN Red List and listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Description
Medium-sized cuckoo measuring 24.5-26cm in length. Plumage is glossy blue to purple or greenish black overall, with a forked tail featuring narrow white bars. Shows a white patch at the base of the feathers and a thin horizontal white stripe visible in the underwing during flight. The black bill has orange mouth lining, while tarsi and toes are black, blueish grey, sometimes pinkish. No sexual dimorphism exists between sexes. Juveniles are distinguished by white spots across the head, wings, and breast, along with some brown feathers. Foot structure is zygodactyl with three toes forward and one backward.
Identification
Distinguished from the similar Black drongo by its down-curved bill (typical of cuckoos) and smoother, more direct flight pattern versus the Black Drongo's acrobatic, swooping flight. Differs from the Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo by its more deeply forked tail versus that species' squarish tail shape, and by higher frequency calls. Key field marks include metallic black plumage, white barred vent, forked tail, and a white spot on the back of the head.
Distribution & Habitat
Resident in peninsular India and Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan population being smaller overall with a less forked tail. In India, populations are partially migratory, with some individuals remaining year-round in Kerala and Goa while others move seasonally between southern wintering areas (Kerala, Karnataka) and northern summering areas (central India, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Eastern Ghats). Vagrants recorded in Nepal, East Pakistan, southern China, Tenasserim, Thailand, and Sumatra. Inhabits woodland, scrub jungle, plantations, orchards, and hill forests from low elevations to 2,600m altitude.
Behavior & Ecology
Insectivorous, feeding mainly on caterpillars and soft-bodied insects caught in flight or plucked from vegetation; occasionally consumes fruits such as banyan and figs. Brood parasite laying eggs in nests of drongos, forktails, minivets, and Black-headed Babbler. Eggs mimic those of hosts to ensure acceptance. Juveniles instinctively eject host eggs and nestlings. Breeding season varies by region: March-October in northern India, April-June in Sikkim, December-May in Sri Lanka, January-March in Kerala. Song consists of 5-6 whistling pip-pip-pip-pip-pip notes rising in pitch; also gives quip calls in flight and wheep-wheep calls. Vocalizations confined primarily to breeding season.
Conservation
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern. No dedicated conservation measures exist beyond general protection of habitat sites across the range. Threats include local pet trade and hunting for food. The species benefits from its mimicry of Black Drongos, which may reduce detection by humans. Climate change and habitat destruction affecting Himalayan avifauna pose potential long-term concerns, though no specific studies on this species' population trends exist.
Culture
No specific cultural significance, folklore, or mythology documented for this species in the source material.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Surniculus
- eBird Code
- asidrc2
Subspecies (2)
-
Surniculus dicruroides dicruroides
Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent
-
Surniculus dicruroides stewarti
Sri Lanka
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.