Wildlifeof India
Andaman Drongo
Crows, Drongos, Orioles & Shrikes
Photo: Shashank Jain from Bangalore, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Dicrurus andamanensis
Basic stats
Diet
Insects such as dragonflies, butterflies and beetles, and spiders and other small arthropods
Habitat
Lush tropical forest, mainly the mid to upper canopy
Range
Endemic to the Andaman Islands; the race dicruriformis is on Great Coco Island and Table Island in the north
Size
28–29cm; the larger race dicruriformis 35cm
The Andaman drongo is endemic to the Andaman Islands of the Bay of Bengal. It is 28–29 cm long, though the larger race dicruriformis is 35 cm. There are two subspecies, the nominate race across the main islands and dicruriformis on Great Coco Island and Table Island in the north of the chain. Males have black plumage, except brownish primaries, and the whole plumage has a green sheen; the wing-linings are silvery brown with white-tipped axillaries and underwing coverts (Wikipedia, general species account).
Within its forest habitat it mainly occupies the mid to upper canopy, known for acrobatic aerial foraging. Its diet mainly consists of insects such as dragonflies, butterflies and beetles, as well as spiders and other small arthropods. It has complex vocalisations that distinguish it from its close relatives. SoIB 2023 treats it as an Andaman endemic and rates it a High conservation priority, with a Restricted range of about 5,400 km² and a rapid current decline of about 5.5% a year (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).
Quick answers
- What does the Andaman Drongo eat?
- Insects such as dragonflies, butterflies and beetles, and spiders and other small arthropods
- What habitat does the Andaman Drongo live in?
- Lush tropical forest, mainly the mid to upper canopy
- Where is the Andaman Drongo found?
- Endemic to the Andaman Islands; the race dicruriformis is on Great Coco Island and Table Island in the north
- How big is the Andaman Drongo?
- 28–29cm; the larger race dicruriformis 35cm