The Sri Lanka drongo (''Dicrurus lophorinus'') or Ceylon crested drongo, is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

in the family Dicruridae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. It was previously considered a subspecies of the

greater racket-tailed drongo The greater racket-tailed drongo (''Dicrurus paradiseus'') is a medium-sized Asian bird which is distinctive in having elongated outer tail feathers with webbing restricted to the tips. They are placed along with other drongos in the family Dic ...

. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland and

montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

Taxonomy

''Dicrurus lophorinus'' Vieillot, 1817, was in the past been placed in monospecific ''Dissemurulus'', or in ''Dissemuroides''. May form a super species with '' D. paradiseus'', often treated as conspecific, but differs in tail morphology and probably in voice. Molecular-genetic studies required in order to elucidate taxonomic status. Few inter grades with race ''ceylonicus'' of ''D. paradises'' formerly reported along border between wet and dry zones, but interbreeding not now possible, since suitable habitat no longer remains between the two ecological zones, now completely separated.

Distribution

The species can be found throughout Wet zone of South Western parts of

, from Deduru Oya to Walawe.

Identification

* Black plumage with metallic blue or greenish-blue gloss * Arching, helmet-like crest * Deeply forked tail * Red eye * Sexes similar

Behavior

It is a forest bird as other drongos that can is confined to forest edges, plantations, and wooded gardens. Like most drongos, it feeds on insects from open perches. A superb mimic of the calls of other birds but always has a metallic sound.

References

*Rasmussen, P.C., and J.C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley guide. Volume 2: attributes and status. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions, Washington D.C. * http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/ceylon_bird_club_search.php?id=48 {{Taxonbar, from=Q12256224 Sri Lanka drongo Endemic birds of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka drongo Sri Lanka drongo