Dicrurus megarhynchus

TAXONOMY

Edolius megarhynchus Quoy and Gaimard, 1830, "Dorérei" = Port Praslin, New Ireland. Monotypic member of spangled drongo (D. bracteatus) superspecies.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Drongo de Nouvelle-Irlande; German: Bandschwanzdrongo; Spanish: Drogo de Nueva Irlanda.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

22–25 in (55–63 cm). Largest of drongos, with strong bill and enormously elongate, streaming, in-curling outer tail feathers that are slightly spathulate at the tips. Iris rich red and plumage all black, with blue gloss on upper surface and wings, paler blue-glossed spangles on breast, and white tipping on concealed under-wing coverts; females are smaller and immatures are duller, near glossless.

DISTRIBUTION

Endemic to New Ireland in Bismarck Archipelago, at all altitudes from sea-level to 5,900 ft (1,800 m) above sea level.

HABITAT

Mainly interior of mid and upper strata of primary and tall secondary rainforest.

BEHAVIOR

More retiring than other drongos, but territorial resident year-round and similarly solitary or in pairs, sitting upright on open perches within cover, tail dangling. It flares the tail when calling; calls include a loud, liquid medley of whistles (probably song) unlike the metallic twanging chatter of other drongos.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Aerial insectivore, sallying actively like other drongos, tail trailing, taking a range of large arthropods in flight or picked from the surface of leaves and branches.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Not known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.