Surniculus lugubris
The Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) is a small, slender cuckoo, typically measuring around 23 cm in length, renowned for its striking resemblance to drongos. Its plumage is a glossy, iridescent blue-black, often highlighted by a distinctive white patch on the underwing coverts, clearly visible in flight, and sometimes subtle white markings on the flanks. A key identification feature, apart from its drongo-like forked tail, is its cuckoo-specific flight pattern and vocalizati...
Found in a variety of forested habitats, including broadleaf forests, woodlands, forest edges, and dense secondary growth from sea level up to approximately 1,800 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide range of invertebrates such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, mantises, and beetles, which it gleans from foliage. It occasionally supplements its diet with small fruits and berries.
This Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo is a diurnal and generally solitary bird, often difficult to observe as it spends much of its time concealed within the tree canopy. It employs an arboreal foraging strategy, primarily gleaning insects from foliage and branches, occasionally making short, agile ae...
The Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo boasts a widespread distribution across the tropical and subtropical regions of South and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from the lower Himalayan foothills in countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Northeast India, stretching eastward through Bangladesh, Mya...
Least Concern
- The Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo is a classic example of Batesian mimicry, closely resembling the aggressive drongo species to deter predators. - Despite its perfect drongo disguise, it is an obligate brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. - Surprisingly, one of its common ...