The moulting drongo at Mamandur

Drongos (Dicrurus macrocercus)) are everywhere in Mamandur, and after a while you stop paying attention to them, which is a pity because they are rather interesting, fearless and lively birds.

With their forked tails, quick swoops and darts, they are unmistakeable, and their calls are distinct as well.

They sat on the cattle, and on these goats, on the lookout for insects and grubs.

One morning though, this one caught my attention, lurking in the shadows, in what, to me, appeared very uncharacteristic of a drongo - being inactive and shy.

I was convinced it was not a drongo.  Where was the forked tail?  And what are these brown feathers on the rear?

On return, I learnt that drongos moult between June and October, in south India, losing their tail fork!  And this was most definitely a black drongo, identified with the white rictal spot.  The los of the primary feathers had revealed the colours of the inner feathers.

And so it was that I learnt something new about the black drongo.

I am sure by this time, he has got his feathers back, and is probably swooping and zipping though the foliage of Mamandur once more.