Nests of Greater and Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongos

on 19th March 2008

Drongo nests are fragile-looking structures built around a fork of a branch of a tree. It is a shallow cup made up of plant materials that can include pliable stems that include grass and creepers, fibres, tendrils, leaf skeletons

Wells (2007) has reported on the nests of a few species. The nest of one Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) was camouflaged on the outside with lichens and bryophytes and felted with cobwebs.

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Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradisus) is common in the forested areas of Singapore. The nest is built high up in the thin branches of a tall tree (above). According to Wells, it is “a cradle slung through the rim from terminal twigs or prongs of a horizontal fork towards the outer end of a branch, quite often in an area bare of leaves…” Cobwebs are used to bind the nest to the branch. It is described as a fairly open lattice, the contents of which can be seen from below. The nest cop measures 7.7-9.0 cm across by 3.8-5.1 cm deep.

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The Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus remifer) is a montane species seen at Fraser’s Hill in Peninsular Malaysia. The nest is more or less similar to that of the Greater Racquet-tailed and Wells describes it as “lined with fine fibre and felted and further secured externally with cobwebs” (above). It measures 7 cm across by 4 cm deep.

A full clutch consists of two to three eggs. Up to three chicks may fledge. During the breeding period these birds are fierce and aggressive.

Morten Strange & YC Wee
Singapore
March 2008

11148.jpg Images from the book “A Passion for Birds” courtesy of Ong Kiem Sian.

Reference:
Wells, D.R. (2007). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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