Hair-crested Drongo

This species is defined as a Review Species. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Dicrurus hottentottus
Malay Name: Cecawi Berambut
Chinese Name: 发冠卷尾

Range:
Breeding Range: Widespread from India through to eastern China. Also present in Borneo, Philippines, Sulawesi and Moluccas

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: brevirostris, hottentottus, faberi, termeuleni, jentincki, viridinitens, borneensis, suluensis, leucops, banggaiensis, pectoralis, guillemardi.

Local Subspecies: brevirostris

Size:

Identification:
Potential for confusion with other drongos – see links below – but Hair-crested has a longer, more slender, and slightly downcurved bill. The tips of the outer tail feathers are curled upwards and inwards.

Similar looking species: Black Drongo, Crow-billed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Habitat: Mixed woodland and open country, mostly lowlands, sometimes parks and gardens on migration

Behaviour/Ecology: A typical drongo: a sit-and-wait predator watching from a high perch and then flying out to capture prey (invertebrates, small reptiles) on the wing or on the ground

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

Past accepted records in our database:

Past records, bar chart (see more bar charts):

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Hair-crested Drongo)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Dicrurus hottentottus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021