Feeding Ecology, Behaviour and Habitat Utilization of Black Drongo (Dicrurus Macrocercus) in Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan

Abstract

Black Drongo is an insectivorous bird native to Pakistan. The present study focused on its feeding preferences, behaviour, ecology and habitat relationships. The study was carried out from first week of December, 2019 to the second week of April, 2020 in the two villages of Rawalpindi named as Daultala (Location-I) and Nata Gujarmall (Location-II). Observations were made by point count method on foot using line transect method. Air (52.27%) was the most commonly used feeding substrate. Aerial feeding mode (52.27%) is preferred over plant or tree gleaning (n=58) and ground feeding (n=47). Most common perching site was man made obstacle, wire (37.72%). Thirteen indigenous tree species and two exotic trees including Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Bottle brush (Callistemon citrinus) were used as perching site by Black Drongo throughout the study. Black Drongo remained solitary (36.36%) during feeding rituals and shared (63.63%) its intimate habitat with other birds. At Location-I and Location-II, habitat was shared with 12 and 16 bird species, respectively. The mean time of prey capturing attempt was lower at Location-I (1.93±0.17 min) than Location-II (2.16±0.16 min). The time range of prey capturing attempt was (0.1±0.16 min) to (11.5±0.17 min). Black Drongo captured prey successfully by first attempt (59.54%), maximum attempts noted were 6. After preying attempts Black Drongo came back to same perch site (67.27%); which is a representative of resource abundance.

Assessment of Cholinesterase inhibition activity of birds inhabiting pesticide exposed croplands and protected area in hot semi-arid region of Pakistan

“…Black drongo, one of the key insectivore species that inhabits the agricultural areas and avoids higher elevations (Wiersma et al, 2016). In an earlier study, Black drongo was observed as a competent predator of insects (Kaur and Kler, 2018;Bilal et al, 2020). White wagtail and black drongo did not show a significant reduction in the activity level of brain AChE.…”

Short Communication: First record of Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectens (Hodgson, 1836)) in East Java Province, Indonesia

“…A study of this species' local distribution, habitat characteristics, population, and behavior is also significant for research. Bilal et al (2020) conducted a feeding ecology, behavior, and habitat utilization of black Drongo in Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan. Similar research can also be carried out at APNP with Drongo species as the objects, particularly Crowbilled Drongo.…”