Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Cuculidae Scientific name Surniculus lugubris Higher classification Surniculus Order Cuculiformes | |
 | ||
Similar | ||
The square-tailed drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) is a species of cuckoo that resembles a black drongo. It is found in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia and is a summer visitor to the Himalayas from Kashmir to eastern Bangladesh. The calls are series of piercing sharp whistles rising in pitch but shrill and choppily delivered.
Contents
Square tailed drongo cuckoo dairy farm nature park singapore
Description
It can be easily distinguished by its straight beak and the white barred vent and outer undertail, and the tail only notched with slightly flared tips. In flight a white wing-stripe is visible from below. It is a brood parasite on small babblers. It is not known how or whether the drongo-like appearance benefits this species but it is suspected that it aids in brood-parasitism just as hawk-cuckoos appear like hawks.
Some recent work suggested that the species was conspecific with the fork-tailed drongo-cuckoo and together known as the Asian drongo-cuckoo, but should be split based on call and morphological differences:. That treatment is taken here.
