Dicrurus aldabranus
The Aldabra Drongo (Dicrurus aldabranus) is a captivating passerine endemic to the remote Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. Averaging 25-30 cm in length, including its characteristic deeply forked tail, and weighing around 40-60 grams, it presents an entirely glossy black plumage. This striking coloration often exhibits iridescent sheens of blue, green, and purple when viewed in good light, making it a true avian jewel of its habitat. Its most distinctive field mark, aside from the 'fish-tail'...
Primarily found in dense coastal scrub, Pemphis thickets, Casuarina groves, and open woodlands across the low-lying coral atoll from sea level to its highest points.
Almost exclusively insectivorous, primarily hawking various flying insects; occasionally gleans from foliage or ground, and is known to occasionally take small lizards or engage in kleptoparasitism.
The Aldabra Drongo is a diurnal and highly active bird, spending its days foraging and defending its territory, and typically roosting solitarily or in pairs within dense foliage at night. Its primary foraging strategy involves spectacular aerial hawking, where it sally-gleans insects directly fr...
The Aldabra Drongo is an exquisitely localized species, with its entire global distribution restricted exclusively to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles archipelago, situated in the western Indian Ocean. This non-migratory, resident species is found year-round across the atoll's four main island...
Vulnerable
- Endemic to the Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its unique biodiversity. - Its vibrant red eyes are a striking contrast against its glossy black, iridescent plumage. - Known for its vocal mimicry, it can imitate the calls of various other bird species on the atoll. - Dis...