Bird Diversity Kerala

24/11/2024

🌿✨ Bird of the Day: Siberian Stonechat ✨🌿
Say hello to the Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus), a stunning winter visitor to Kerala! Known locally as സൈബീരിയൻ ചരൽക്കുരുവി, this tiny bird is a delight for birders.

🦜 Key Highlights:
🌍 Range: Breeds in Siberia, Himalayas, and NE Europe; winters in India, including Kerala.
🌾 Habitat: Grasslands, wetlands, scrubby areas, and farmlands.
🎨 Appearance: Males with striking black hoods and rufous-chestnut breasts, while females flaunt subtle browns and white patches.
🐛 Diet: Insects and larvae.
📢 Calls: A mix of "whit," "trac," and a hoarse "krrrr."

Spot them in Kerala between September and April, fluttering across open fields and wetlands. A must-see for bird lovers! 🌈🐦

📸 Share your sightings in the comments!

06/10/2024

Today, we are familiarizing the flycatcher belonging to the family Muscicapidae, the Brown-breasted Flycatcher. In “Malayalam” the bird is called ” Muthupilla”.

Scientific name is Muscicapa mutui
The bird is distributed in NE India, Central and Southern China, NW Thailand, N Vietnam, and also in Myanmar. Non-breeding season birds occur in SW India and Sri Lanka.
The bird spends the non-breeding season in Kerala. They occur in semi-evergreen to evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, and sacred groves in Kerala.

The brown-breasted flycatcher is 13–14 cm in length and weighs between 10-14 g. The overall colour of the upper parts is olive-brown. Some of the feather shafts are darker. The upper tail coverts are brighter rufous as are the edges of the flight feathers. The tail feathers have rufous on the outer webs. The lores are pale and the eye ring is conspicuous. The chin and throat are white while the breast and sides of the body are pale brown. The middle of the body to the vent is buffy white. The legs and lower mandible are pale flesh-coloured.

Sexes alike. Juvenile is similar to adult, but heavily streaked with rufous-buff and blackish on upper parts and breast
Diet includes small invertebrates, particularly flies, beetles, and larvae. Usually seen solitary. It forages for insects in dense vegetation, including bamboo, and lower levels of forest canopy, often close to the forest floor. Quiet, retiring, and partly crepuscular; spends long periods almost motionless on low perch before dashing after passing an insect. The birds are often seen in same locality for long periods.

Generally silent in the non-breeding season. Calls include a thin “tseet” and a very rapid, dry “chi-chi-chi-chi-chi” with last 2 notes lower.

Breeding season is April to –June. The nest is a neat cup-shaped structure made entirely of moss, placed in dense bush, creepers or low tangled vegetation up to 6 m from the ground. Clutch 4–5 eggs; incubation by both sexes; no information on duration of incubation and fledging periods.

In the IUCN Global Red list, the bird is included under Least Concerned.

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08/09/2024

Today we are familiarizing the bird belonging to the Coracidae family, Oriental dollarbird. In ‘Malayalam’ the bird is called ‘Kattu Panam Kakka’. Scientific name is Eurystomus orientalis.
Dollar bird is distributed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, and Australia. Of the 10 subspecies recorded, Eurystomus orientalis laetior occurs in SW India, including Kerala.
Dollar birds occur in Semi-evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests in Kerala. The bird is about 27–32 cm long and weighs about 109–175 g. The bird’s head and face are black in colour. The bird’s outer surface is shining black with a bluish tinge and the underside is bluish-grey. The bird’s neck and throat are bluish-red coloured. In flight has a characteristic white circle, or ‘dollar’, on each underwing. Bill is deep and very broad at the base, hook-tipped and powerful, scarlet; orbital ring and legs dark red. Sexes alike. Immature has upper parts duller and darker, underparts slaty-blue, and wing patch less brilliant blue and less well defined. Juvenile bird has brown bill.
Frequently perches on the tops of tall dead trees. Dollar bird is most commonly seen singly with a distinctive upright silhouette on a bare branch high in a tree, from which it hawks for insects, returning to the same perch after a few seconds. Large, hard insects are taken in flight, which include: cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and moths. Typically rather silent. The commonest call is a repeated short, hoarse, rasping “rak” or “chak.
Breeding season is March- May. Nest is an unlined hole 8-20 m up in dead or living trees, usually an old woodpecker or barbet hole. Clutches of 3-5 eggs; incubation period is about 23 days.

IUCN conservation status is ‘Least Concerned’.

30/08/2024

Today we are familiarizing Red Spurfowl an endemic bird of India. In Malayalam vernacular, the bird is called as “ Chempan Mullankozhi”.
Scientific name is Galloperdix spadicea. Of the three sub species recordeed, G. spadicea stewarti occurs in Kerala.
The species is found in scrub, dry and moist-deciduous forests often in hilly areas. The bird prefers areas with good undergrowth including Lantana thickets and scrubby bamboos. Often close to cultivation and occurs mostly at 300–1250 m a.s.l. Mostly sedentary, remaining in same area for long periods. When alarmed, dodges from one piece of cover to another. They run very fast, flying only when alarmed. When flushed, they usually fly a short distance and stay in well-defined territories throughout the year. They roost on trees.
The bird is about 35 to 38 cm long and 280 to 450 g in weight and with relatively long dark tail. Bird has overall chestnut brown plumage including the head feathers. The upper parts are chestnut brown with dark barring while the face and neck are more gray in the male. Both sexes have long feathers on the crown that can be erected into a crest.
The underside is rufous with dark markings and both sexes have a red facial skin patch and red legs with one to four spurs while female birds have none.
Downy chicks have an unmarked cinnamon brown head, a dark brown band along the back bordered by creamy stripes edged with thin lines of dark brown.
Bill has reddish base and pinkish-horn tip, iris yellow-brown to brown, bare periocular skin brick red (male) or pinkish red (female), brighter during breeding season in both sexes. Legs are red. Juvenile male more richly and deeply coloured than similar adult female, sometimes with bolder black body barring.
Seeds, berries, fruits, especially figs, and various invertebrates. Mainly forages within vegetation, though will feed on paths and at field edges in early morning and evening; usually in small groups of two to five birds. The calls include a distinct ker-wick...kerwick... and harsh karr...karrr... notes.
Breeding is in most months except the wettest (Jun–Aug). Monogamous. Nest is a shallow scrape, sometimes lined with a few pieces of grass and some leaves, amid dense vegetation, e.g. bamboo. Usually, 2–5 buff-colored eggs; incubation is by female alone, but both parents tend chicks.
Not globally threatened (Least Concern).

08/07/2024

In “Malayalam” vernacular, bird is called as “Theekkakka”. Scientific name is
Harpactes fasciatus.

Malabar Trogon occurs in Sri Lanka and India. Of the three subspecies reported,
H. f. malabaricus occurs in the Western and Eastern peninsular India in Western and Eastern Ghats. In Kerala, the birds are resident and occur in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests and shola forests.

The bird is about 29–30 cm long and 62–64 g in weight. Trogons are brightly coloured and sexually dimorphic. The male has a slaty black head and breast with a white border to the black bib separating it from the crimson on the underside. The back is olive-brown to chestnut. The wing coverts are black with fine white vermiculations. Tail has 12 graduated tail feathers. The central tail-feathers are chestnut with a black tip, with the second and third pairs from the middle having more black than chestnut. The outer three pairs have long white tips. The female lacks the contrasting black and crimson and has only a slightly darker head and breast that shades into the olive brown on the back while the crimson of the underside of the male is replaced by ochre. In both sexes, the beak is bluish as is the skin around the eye. The iris is dark brown and the feet are pale bluish. The nostrils are covered by tufts of filoplumes.
Juvenile male looks like female bird, but has greyish head and breast.
These birds usually perch still, especially when alarmed and will sometimes clinging laterally to branches.

The birds utter low guttural calls that can be heard only at close distance and the birds perch still on a branch under the forest canopy, often facing away from the viewer making them easy to miss despite their colourful plumage.
Malabar trogons feed exclusively on insects. They may also hang upside down to reach prey on vertical tree surfaces. Caterpillars, moths, beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, bugs, stick-insects and other insects.

The bird produce a throaty, musical “cue-cue-cue. Low rolling “krr-r-r-r” when alarmed, usually given by female.
Breeding season is during February to June. The nest is made on rotting trees or stumps that are easy to carve and pulverize using their bills. The male and female take turns to excavate the nest using their bills. It may take about a month to excavate the nest. The floor is made out of the wood powder. Two to three eggs were seen to be the normal clutch.
Incubated by both males and females. The incubation period is about 19 days. The hatchlings are fed mainly caterpillars for the initial period. The adults continue to feed the fledged juveniles for nearly 5 to 6 months.
Conservation Status Least Concern.
Not globally threatened.
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20/08/2023

🐦 Exploring the Avian World: Meet the Oriental Turtle Dove 🐦

Today, let's take a closer look at the charming Oriental Turtle Dove, also known as the Rufous Turtle Dove. 🕊️🌍

🌿 Scientific Name: Streptopelia orientalis
🏞️ Habitat: Wooded areas near feeding grounds, especially paddy fields
🍽️ Diet: Paddy, cereals, herbs, bamboo shoots, and green shoots of various plants

🌍 Distribution: This lovely species has a vast native range from Europe to Japan, showing plumage variations in at least six named subspecies. Some migrate south in winter, while others remain sedentary or even venture as far as North America as vagrants.

🌏 Subspecies: Streptopelia orientalis erythrocephala resides in peninsular India, including the Western and North Eastern Ghats. Populations in Northern Asia migrate south to South and East Asia, while Himalayan and other Northern Indian populations head to Peninsular India for the winter.

🎶 Song: Their distinctive call consists of two gruff notes followed by two soothing coos: "grrruh-grrruh...cooooh..cooooh" 🎵

📏 Size & Appearance: These doves measure about 33–35 cm long and weigh 165–274 g. Their plumage is a delightful blend of bluish-grey on the forehead, with rufous and pinkish tones on the nape and face. Their deep rust-pink breast is a sight to behold, while a black patch graces the side of their neck.

👀 Eyes: Their iris can vary from light red to orange-red to orange or golden, adding a touch of elegance.

🐣 Breeding: Breeding season typically occurs from November to February in South India. The doves build substantial nests placed at mid-canopy heights in trees, with both parents tending to their altricial chicks.

📈 Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Global Red List, the Oriental Turtle Dove is listed as "Least Concern."

Let's celebrate the beauty and diversity of our feathered friends! Do you have any stories or sightings of these delightful doves to share? 🌸🌳

30/07/2023

30/07/2023

Today we are familiarizing the bird Rose Ringed Parakeet or Ring-necked parakeet. In ‘Malayalam’ vernacular, the bird is called as”Mothira Thatha” or Nattu Thatha, Valan Thatha , Panja Varna Kili, etc.
Scientific name is Psittacula krameri.
The bird is widely distributed in Africa, Arabia, India, Afganistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Kazakhistan, Kyrgystan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Mauritius, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Seychelles, Hawaiian Is, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka. Of the four subspecies, Psittacula krameri manillensis occurs in Kerala.
The bird occurs in habitat ranging from deciduous to light secondary forests, mainly in lowlands up to 1600 m, riparian and evergreen forest patches, open agricultural lands with scattered trees, orchards, plantations, etc.
Rose ringed Parakeet is resident and one of the most destructive bird pests in agriculture, attacking the agricultural crops in large flocks in cereals fields, sesame seeds, and other fruit crops. Birds also eat flower petals of Salmalia malabarica, Erythrina indica, Butea monosperma, Cocos nucifera. Also prefers seeds of Prosopis spicigera, Acacia arabica, Casuarina equisetifolia, fruit of Dalbergia sisoo, Ficus, Acacia, Ziziphus, Xanthium, Melia azedarach, Azadirachta indica and Albizia lebbek,
In captivity, rose-ringed parakeets will take a large variety of food and can be fed on a number of fruits, vegetables, pellets, seeds, and even small amounts of cooked meat for protein.
Birds make often high-pitched dry screeches, often in fast series, e.g. “kreeh-kreeh-kreeh-kreeh...”
Rose ringed parakeet is sexually dimorphic. The adult male bird shows a red and black ring, and the female and immature birds show no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck rings. Bird is about 37–43 cm long and weighs 95–143 g. Bird is overall pale yellowish green, with

upper mandible dark red tipped black, lower mandible black, with black chin and malar area curving and narrowing into half-collar on side of neck, where bordered below by a narrow rose pink line that extends over nape, above by indistinct mauve-blue extending onto hindcrown. Flight-feathers duskier green above, grey below. Tail bluish green on central feathers, ochrish below.
Breeding period is January to June. Birds nest in hollow in trees, especially on coconut palms. Both male and female join to make new nest holes in dried up coconut palms or enlarge the nest holes used by other birds. Usually the nest will be 3-10 up.
Eggs usually 3–4, rarely six, 29–31 mm × 21·5–22·1 mm. Incubation lasts 22 days. Nestling period 7 weeks.
Rose-ringed parakeets are popular as pets and they have a long history in
aviculture.
Both males and females have the ability to mimic human speech. First, the bird listens to its surroundings, and then it copies the voice of the human speaker.
A popular pet, the rose-ringed parakeet has been released in a wide range of cities around the world.
Birds adaptations to cold winters in the Himalayan foothills allow it to easily withstand European winter conditions. It has been established feral populations in a number of European cities, There are also apparently stable populations in the U.S. and also in the Neherland. Rose ringed Parakeet is also found throughout Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. A small number of escaped birds are present in Australia.
In IUCN Global Red List, the bird is “ Least Concern”

09/07/2023

Today we are familiarizing the bird, Eurasian Spoonbill or Common Spoonbill. In ‘Malayalam’ vernacular the bird is called as” Chattuka Kokkan” or “ Karandi Kokkan”. Scientific name is Platalea leucorodia
Eurasian Spoonbills are found widely distributed in Europe, Africa and Asia. In Europe, the bird breeds in United Kingdom, and Portugal, Denmark and areas east to Balkans and the Black Sea. In Asia, it breeds in a broad range across the central part of the continent, from Black Sea to the Korean Peninsula, southern Iraq, Iran, southern Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Birds breeding in warmer parts of Asia and Africa are largely residential birds or move short distance locally. More northern population migrate to south to overwinter in warmer parts of Asia, West and East Africa and South East China. Breeding populations in India and Sri Lanka are mostly sedentary and nomadic. Birds reach in Kerala as migratory species and spend a few months in wetlands and coastal belts of the State. Migration is usually conducted in flocks of up to 100 individuals.
The birds prefer extensive, shallow wetlands and muddy sand belts. They inhabit in marshy vegetation near river, lake, pond, in costal lagoons in brackish or saline water.
Of the three subspecies recorded, Platalea leucorodia leucorodia occurs in Kerala.
They are mostly silent. Even at their breeding colonies the main sounds are bill snapping, occasional deep grunting and occasional trumpeting noises.
The bird is about 70–95 cm long and weighs 1130–1960 g. Wingspan is 115–135 cm. Male bird somewhat larger than female, with longer bill and legs. Bill is blackish and almost like spoon. Legs are blackish. Extent of yellow at base of neck variable, from only small patch in front to complete ring. It has a crest during the breeding season. Non breeding adult lacks yellow and also crest. Immature birds are similar to non breeding adult, but bill initially pinkish, and black tips to primaries. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.
Diet of the bird includes larvae of water beetles, dragonflies, locusts, flies and other insects, molluscs and crustacians, worms, leeches, shrimps, frog and tadpoles and small fishes. Also algae, aquatic plants and plant matter. Species forages in small flocks, less often alone. Wades methodically in shallow water, sweeping bill from side to side. Often runs after the prey.

Partly a nocturnal feeder. Significance of the shape of the bill is controversial with conflicting hypotheses that it serves to minimise drag and turbulence during sweeping, hence not alarming potential prey and that it generates suction effects.
Most activity takes place during the morning and evening (although in coastal areas foraging is governed by tidal rhythms), they often roost communally in roosts which are up to 15 km away from the feeding areas
Breeding season variable on Indian subcontinent, depending on water conditions, mostly November to January in India.
Nest a platform of sticks, twigs, reeds or grass stems, lined to varying extent with grass and leaves; built on ground or on tufts of grass when on islands, or up to 5 m up when nesting in bushes, mangroves. Perhaps in consequence, although males are mainly responsible for nest-building, during daylight they incubate and attend the nest more than females. Females incubate and attend the nest at night and feed the chicks at a higher rate than males. Typically forms monospecific colonies.
Clutch size usually 3–4 eggs (3–7); incubation 24–25 days; chicks have sparse white down; fledge in 45–50 days. Sexual maturity probably at 3–4 years old; oldest ringed bird was over 28 years old.
Conservation status is Least Concern .

11/06/2023

We are familiarizing the bird Chestnut headed Bee Eater. In ‘Malayalam’ vernacular, the bird is called as “Chendhalayan Velithatha”. Scientific name of the bird is Merops leschenaultia.
It is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and adjoining regions. Occurs in South India, Sri Lanka, North India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia,
South China (Yunnan), Indochina and Malay Peninsula.
The bird occurs in forest clearings and open spaces in forested areas, plantations, large gardens, stream and riverside. Generally recorded from sea-level to 800 m but also occurs up to 1500 m. Usually avoids heavy monsoon rainfall during June to September in certain areas. Some populations from North India migrate to foothills of Himalayas during summer and also a few remains in winter.
Diet includes wasps, ants, termites, dragonflies, butterflies, honeybees and grasshoppers, all taken airborne. Forages by fly-catching from a bush top, wire or bare branch. Often perches on telephone wires and fences, at 1–2 m above ground. Although in non-breeding season groups may forage in crowns of trees.
Very vocal, with most calls “pruik”, “churit” or “djewy”, or slight variations thereof.
Of the three subspecies recorded, Merops l. leschenaultia occurs in Kerala.
The bee eater is about 20–22•5 cm long and weighs 23–33 g. A distinctive, smallish bee-eater with long wings but without long tail-streamers.
Forehead, crown, nape, lower face and ear-coverts bright chestnut . Lores black, continued as a band under the eye and ear-coverts . Wing-coverts, lower back and tertiaries green, the latter tipped with bluish. Rump and upper tail-coverts pale shining blue. Primaries and secondaries green, rufous on the inner webs, and all tipped dusky. Central tail-feathers bluish on the outer, and green on the inner webs ; the others green, margined on the inner web with brown and all tipped dusky. Sides of face, chin and throat are yellow. Below this a broad band of chestnut extending to the sides of the neck and meeting the chestnut of the upper plumage. Below this again a short distinct band of black and then an ill-defined band of yellow; remainder of lower plumage green, tipped with blue, especially on the vent and under tail-coverts. Iris crimson , bill black , legs dusky black , claws dark horn-colour.
Juvenile bird has forehead, crown and mantle green, not bay-brown, and nape and sides of crown rufous, tinged with green; gorget line dusky or rufous, not black.
Breeding period is February to June. Eggs usually laid in February –June. Both sexes dig nest-burrow in flat, open, sandy ground, shelving sandbank by river, or in vertical bank by river, drain or road cutting; in high cliffs, nests tend to be sited near top, 3–6 m above ground or water. Burrow 45 cm long in hard earth, up to 3 m long in soft earth. Entrance up to ca. 8 cm in diameter. Nest digging may last for almost one month. Clutch of 4–8 eggs. Incubation by both sexes.
Not globally threatened. Common at least locally throughout its range

16/04/2023

Today we are familiarizing the bird, a duck species Pintail or Northern Pintail. In ‘Malayalam’ vernacular, the bird is called as “Valan Eranda”. Scientific name is Anas acuta.
The Northern pintail is widely distributed in northern areas of Europe, abundant in North America, Alaska and southern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Spitsbergen, Scandinavia, east across the artic areas to Chukotski peninsula, Kamchatka and central Europe, Caspian sea and Transcaucasia.
It is a migratory bird and winters south of its breeding range to the equator and reaches northern sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South Asia. Small numbers migrate to pacific islands, particularly Hawaii. The species arrives on wintering areas beginning in August, after wing moult, often forming large roosting and feeding flocks on open, shallow wetlands and flooded agricultural fields. The birds reach in wetlands of Kerala by August.
The pintail feeds by dabbling and upending in shallow water for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. The bird spends much of the day resting. Its long neck enables it to take food items from the bottom of water bodies up to 30 cm deep.
The birds consume grains, marsh plant seeds, and rhizomes of aquatic weeds. It is highly gregarious, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck. Forages singly or with mate in nesting season, and in flocks in nonbreeding and early nesting seasons. During the nesting season, this bird eats mainly invertebrates including aquatic insects, molluscs and crustaceans.
Most common call of adult male bird is whee, a wheezy train-whistle-like sound, given throughout the year in association with both threat and appeasement displays.
Most common call of adult female bird is variation of a short, low ke or k*k, given singly or in series. K*k call is associated with alert, preflight behaviors, Inciting display (staccato k*k-k*k-k*k-k*k ... k*k-k*k-k*k-k*k....)

Bird is about 50–66 cm long and male weighs about 850–1030 g; female bird is ca. 735–871 g. In breeding plumage, male bird has chocolate-brown nape, throat and head, contrasting with white on neck sides and largely grey-vermiculated upperparts and flanks, with foreneck, breast and central underparts white, becoming yellow-buff ventrally. Black tail-coverts, brownish-gray primaries, grayish-brown wing coverts with buff fringes to greater coverts, metallic green to bronze speculum that becomes blackish inwards and has subterminal bands and broad white trailing edge, gray underwing with darker coverts, gray scapulars and tertials with black central stripes, and two central rectrices highly elongated and slender, black with pale grey fringes. Bill blue-grey with black central stripe, nail and cutting edges.
Female has grayish-brown head and neck, finely flecked and mottled darker, slightly paler and finely mottled neck and underparts. Brownish flanks with darker crescentic markings, brownish-gray upperparts with scalloped effect, gray-brown wings with pale tips to greater coverts and duller, and bronze-brown speculum with broad white trailing edge. Bill duller than male with less obviously dark culmen.
Juvenile has darker, browner crown, plainer, less buffy upperparts and flanks, more spotted below, and has sepia-brown tail feathers fringed buff, as well as shorter, duller and less ornate tertials, much less white on trailing edge to speculum and tips to greater coverts; young female much like juvenile male, but has unbarred mantle and dark grey-brown speculum..
Both sexes reach sexual maturity at one year of age. The male mates with the female by swimming close to her with his head lowered and tail raised, continually whistling.
Northern pintails typically form pairs during migration, or even while still on wintering grounds. Breeding takes place between April and June, with the nest being constructed on the ground and hidden amongst vegetation in a dry location, often some distance from water. It is a shallow scrape on the ground lined with plant material and down. The female lays seven to nine cream-coloured eggs at the rate of one per day. Female bird alone incubates the eggs for 22 to 24 days before they hatch. The downy chicks are then led by the female to the nearest body of water, where they feed on dead insects on the water surface. The chicks fledge in 46 to 47 days after hatching, but stay with the female until she has completed moulting. The maximum recorded age of the bird is 27 years. In Global Red List, the bird is included under Least Concern.

09/04/2023

Today we are familiarizing the bird White-bellied Treepie, a bird of the Crow family. In ‘Malayalam’ vernacular, the bird is called as “Kattujaly”. Scientific name is Dendrocitta leucogastra.
The bird is distributed in the Western Ghats from northern Karnataka to southern Kerala and eastern to western Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiris. They overlap in distribution in some areas with the Rufous Treepie.
The birds occurs in humid lush evergreen forests, small riverine sholas, mixed secondary forest patches, cardamom and rubber plantations. Occurs in foothills to mountain forest line, from 60 m to 1500 m. Usually avoids human habitation and human contacts. Bird is monotypic and almost sedentary.

Diet includes variety of invertebrates and their larvae, also small vertebrates such as small lizards and rodents, and eggs and nestlings of small birds. The bird also likes flower nectar and a variety of fruits and seeds, particularly ripe seeds of Sterculia villosa, which it devours by stripping the orange pods. Foraging typically in pairs or family parties. Often with mixed foraging parties of other forest birds, particularly Greater Racquet-tailed Drongos. when associating with these mixed flocks, it readily comes down to bushy undergrowth, and more rarely descends to ground.

Vocalizations include short, dry rattle terminating in frog-like croak, lower, coarser dry rattle ending in sharp note, "krrrrrrrrrrrr, quit", or "kt-kt-kt-kt-kt", high-pitched clanging "quang, quang, quang" (3–5 notes), or "ko-koo" (in display), harsh "kraa" an alarm call, throaty "chuff-chuff-chuff" by two birds facing each other and jumping up and down, rapid "took- took-took", and remarkable series of 7 very deep "clunky" knocking notes. Significance of many of these uncertain. Vocalizations similar to those given by Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo. When calling, the bird bows and droops its wings.
The bird is about 45 cm long and weighs ca. 125 g. Bird is with much white in plumage. Tail long, strongly graduated, central pair of feathers little broadening towards tip. Bill is rather stout with strong curve on culmen and cutting edges. Most of crown, throat and upper breast are black, rear crown, nape, hindneck and most of underparts below breast strikingly white, feathered portion of tibia black. Undertail covert chestnut, mantle, and scapulars chestnut-brown, rump and uppertail-coverts white; Upperwing black, white patch at base of primaries; central tail feathers light silvery grey with wide black terminal band, rest of tail black. Iris red to reddish-brown. Bill and legs blackish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile has buffy fringes of body feathers and tertials, and narrower central tail feathers.
Breeding period is February to April, chiefly March and April. Several birds may arrive at one tree and call repeatedly during the breeding season. Nest a rather deep cup lined with smaller twigs, rootlets and other soft plant material, well hidden inside canopy of large forest tree or tall shrub, generally well away from human habitation. Three to four eggs are laid, ashy grey with green and grey blotches.
Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Western Ghats. Locally quite common in lush tropical evergreen forests. Present in a number of protected areas, including Malabar wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar and Silent Valley National Parks, Thattakad (Salim Ali) Bird Sanctuary.