Asian Drongo-cuckoo

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Asian Drongo-cuckoo
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Surniculus
Species: S. lugubris
Binomial name
Surniculus lugubris
(Horsfield, 1821)

The Asian Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris is a species of cuckoo that resembles a Black Drongo. It can be easily distinguished by its straight beak and the white barred vent. It is a brood parasite on small babblers. It is not known how or whether the drongo-like appearance benefits this species.

It shares the genus Surniculus with the Philippine Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus velutinus. This is usually treated as a subspecies of S. lugubris, but can be separated as a species on the basis of vocalization and juvenile plumage.

Some recent work suggests that the species may need to be split into two recognized forms- Square-tailed and Fork-tailed.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rasmussen, P. C & Anderton 2005 Birds of South Asia:The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian and Lynx Edicions