Drongos (Dicruridae)

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) - HBW 14, p. 221

French: Drongo à ventre blanc German: Graubrustdrongo Spanish: Drongo Ventriblanco
Other common names: Indian White-bellied Drongo (caerulescens); Ceylon White-bellied Drongo (insularis); White-vented Drongo (leucopygialis)

Taxonomy: Lanius caerulescens Linnaeus, 1758, Bengal, India.
May be related to D. leucophaeus. On mainland, nominate race exhibits decrease in size and reduction in extent of white on abdomen from N to S; overlap in individual measurements of wing and tail, however, is c. 50%, and more than that for bill, so that determination of geographical distinctions not possible. Sri Lanka races insularis and leucopygialis intergrade. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

caerulescens ( Linnaeus, 1758) - India S from Haryana and E Gujarat, E along lower slopes of Himalayas to S Nepal, and to West Bengal and C Orissa.
insularis ( Sharpe, 1877) - N & SE Sri Lanka.
leucopygialis Blyth, 1846 - SW Sri Lanka.