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Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris

on 13th November 2018
Image #1: Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus dicruroides).

“[For this post on the Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo] I am using nomenclature from “Cuckoos of the World, by Johannes Erritzøe, Clive F. Mann, Frederik P. Brammer and Richard A. Fuller. Helm, 2012” which has split the Asian Drongo-cuckoo into the Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) and the Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus dicruroides).

Image #2: Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo. Note white tail tips.

“There appears to be little to differentiate these birds except for the forked tail which is not always the easiest of features. The Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo is resident in my region while the Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo is a migrant.

Image #3:Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo. Note white thighs.

“I was fortunate to meet up with at least 3 birds feeding together in the same location (there were possibly 4 birds). This is unusual as social behaviour but I have seen other cuckoos also congregating when the food source is abundant (here hairy caterpillars).

Image #4: Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo. Note white thighs and tail tips.

“A rare possibility is a family unit, as some work has shown that parents continue to watch over their young, even after leaving the parasitic host.

Image #5: Close-up of Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo.

“There was also a Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus threnodes) feeding at the same site and there was occasional conflict between this Plaintive and the Drongo-cuckoos – the Plaintive Cuckoo attempted to chase them off its feeding patch.

-Image #6: Close-up of Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo. Note white patch on nape.

“The birds were very confiding and I attempted many close up images of plumage/features. These first 4 images are general images to show the 3 birds in different lighting and postures. There appears to be a slight ‘gape’ in some of them but I think this is the yellow oral cavity showing. Note the white thighs in image #4 which are usually hard to see (also visible in image #3). Images #2 and #4 show the white tips to the tail that are often present.

Image #7: Close-up of Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo. Note white patch on nape.

“Some close-up views of the birds in different lighting. Note the white patch on the nape that is usually hard to see (Images #6 and #7). “Cuckoos of the World” queries whether this is a feature left over from the juvenile state. All 3 birds I saw had it. A feeding image in #8.”

Image #8: Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo feeding.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
23rd October 2018

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth a fringe of the city

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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