Greater Racket-tailed Drongo feeding chicks

YC Wee
on 24th April 2019
Image by Johnny Wee.

Jeremiah Looei’s video clip of the Greater racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) was documented at Dairy Farm. Perched along the nest’s rim with insects between its mandibles, it was mimicking the call of the Changeable Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus). After all, this drongo is a great mimic, with a wide repertoire of different birds’ calls including urban sounds like those of the chain saws and bells – see also HERE.

Video grab, dragonfly? – Jeremiah Loei.

Being mainly insectivorous, the adults brought insects like dragonflies and bees.

Video grab, bee? – Jeremiah Loei.

Like many other birds, the chicks will, after feeding, excrete its waste matter enclosed in a whitish faecal sac. In this instance the adult missed picking it from the chick’s posterior, as can be seen towards the end of the video at 1:10 minute.

Jeremiah Loei & Johnny Wee
Singapore
15th April 2019

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour through photography and videography to a wider audience.

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

Singapore Nature: 14. Accolades

6th July 2023

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