black black small asian bird family common resident tropical southern asia southwest iran india sri_lanka east southern china indonesia wholly black bird distinctive tail measures length feeding insects common open agricultural areas light forest range bare perch power telephone lines species known aggressive behaviour larger birds dive bomb bird prey territory behaviour earns informal king crow smaller birds nest guarded vicinity nesting black previously considered subspecies african fork tailed recognized species black introduced pacific islands abundant point threatening causing extinction native endemic bird species taxonomy black considered subspecies fork tailed close relative diverged relatively recently considered distinct species fork tailed restricted africa separated asian range black seven subspecies named largely populations variation individuals northern india larger population minor india nominate subspecies intermediate size race found thailand hong_kong china race smaller spot wings dark greenish southern race thai resident overlaps race found islands java race found tail length wing description bird glossy black wide fork tail adults usually small white spot base iris dark brown crimson similar sexes told apart field juveniles brownish white barring belly vent mistaken white year birds white tips feathers belly second years white tipped feathers restricted vent aggressive fearless birds length attack larger species enter nesting territory including birds prey behaviour led king crow fly strong flaps wing capable fast manoeuvres enable capture flying insects short legs sit upright bushes bare electricity wires perch grazing animals capable producing wide range calls common note resembling distribution habitat black found predominantly open country usually hunts close ground aerial predators insects ground vegetation found summer visitors northeastern afghanistan northern pakistan residents bangladesh india sri_lanka populations seasonal movements poorly understood black found fields urban habitats black introduced second world war taiwan island help control insects believed dispersed sea island guam 1950s fourth commonly seen birds counts guam today abundant bird predation competition black suggested factors decline endemic bird species white eye guam behaviour ecology food foraging black active early dawn later birds feed mainly insects bees ants beetles fly close tree branches attempting insects present fields picking exposed beetle birds seen congregations attracted burning insects disturbed appear avoid flies associate common cattle birds share similar diet habitat benefit association successful foraging partial overlap insect prey sought rare instances rob prey said imitate flight steal prey similar behaviour false alarm calls noted fork tailed cases black small birds reptiles maybe bats occasion seen feeding fish flowers trees visited water known feed grains rarely known larger feed butterflies avoided predators known feed late evening night insects attracted artificial lights nesting breeding black breed mainly february march southern india august parts country males females sing breeding season courtship include chases lock wings pair falling ground displays ground pair bonds retained breeding season nest cup thin layer sticks placed fork branch built week male female eggs laid close rains april usual clutch rarely eggs laid cup nest placed fork outer branch tree large tree preferred eggs pale cream red spots markings long wide eggs parents hatch days days young capable maintaining fairly constant body temperature second clutch laid destroyed nests built telephone poles nesting territory km2 hectares maintained offspring previous brood noted assist feeding nest parents cases brood asian noted average breeding success noted main cause fledgling mortality shortage insect food turn dependent rainfall proximity nesting habit driving away predators near nests believed encourage birds especially nest vicinity study nests red nesting metres abnormal case red feeding chicks black nest recorded aggressive land large birds prey suggested asian evolved mimic species intensity predators studied java observations showed significant increase nesting season predators hawk eagle black eagle nest predator equal intensity seasons suggested strategy avoid giving away location nests breeding season growth development young birds yellowish red feather appear fourth day pin feathers emerge week increase weight steadily days old eyes open eighth day iris reddish black turns red young leave nest days hatching fork tail weeks parents continue feed protect month young birds food longer ignored chased away adults birds reach breeding condition years play behaviour observed birds dropping leaf air catching mid air possibly help young birds acquire skills southern india feathers june october wing begins july primary proceeds tenth replaced august secondary orderly 8th 7th dropped earlier rest tail feathers seasonal colour changes tissues caused variation synthesis dark lost breeding season parasites diseases bird described species predators diseases significant factors adult mortality relation humans habit bees makes bee keepers farmers attract fields artificial fields encourage feed pest insects culture common wide range local names older genus derived hindi local names include pakistan policeman hindi bird tail tamil telugu queen central india cattle lose horn newly fledged bird held reverence parts belief brought water ibn ali revered muslims sources observations species birds common indian birds black bull joseph annual rhythm family comparative biology ecology behaviour black
Black drongo