The greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is a medium-sized bird distinctive in having elongated outer tail feathers with webbing restricted to the tips. In flight it looks like two flies following the bird.
They are conspicuous in the forest often perching in the open and by attracting attention with a wide range of loud calls that include perfect imitations of alarm calls of many other birds.
It can mimic over 35 to 40 different bird species, alongside other forest animals like frogs, insects, and mammals. It can confuse many expert bird watchers.
They are aggressive, especially when nesting. The whistle note it makes resembles the police whistle leads to its local name in many parts of India of Kothwal.
Shot in Coorg, Oct 2016 © Dr.Bishan Monnappa
