A small sooty-black drongo with tail slightly rounded (not forked), rather short bill strongly compressed, upper mandible strongly hooked, rictal bristles very long. Has frontal band pure velvety black, slight crest of brilliant purple-blue; glossy steel-blue feathers on upperparts, becoming faint on flanks and belly; concealed white patch at base of scapulars; irris brown; bill and legs black. Sexes similar, female a little smaller then male; central tail feathers exceed outer ones by 1-9 mm for male, 1-11 mm for female. Immature is duller than adult and have white gape.
Not Threatened
A small sooty-black drongo with tail slightly rounded (not forked), rather short bill strongly compressed, upper mandible strongly hooked, rictal bristles very long. Has frontal band pure velvety black, slight crest of brilliant purple-blue; glossy steel-blue feathers on upperparts, becoming faint on flanks and belly; concealed white patch at base of scapulars; irris brown; bill and legs black. Sexes similar, female a little smaller then male; central tail feathers exceed outer ones by 1-9 mm for male, 1-11 mm for female. Immature is duller than adult and have white gape.
20 – 22 cm, including tail 9-10cm; male 36 – 45 g, female 27 – 39g
Taxonomy: Chaetorhynchus papuensis A. B. Meyer, 1874, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Considered the most primitive drongo, differing from Dicrurus in having twelve (not ten) rectrices. Recent molecular-genetic study, however, indicates that genus may belong in fantail family (Rhipiduridae). Clinal variation in size, W populations (mean male wing measurement 122 mm) on average larger than those in SE (118 mm), with intermediate values in intervening regions. Monotypic.
Hill forests from 200m to 1600m, mainly 600-1400m; typical bird of forest interior. Altitudinal ranges of this species and Dicrurus bracteatus seem ti be nearly mutually explusive, latter occuring in lowland forest.
Feeds on insect and spiders. Hunts in middle stage of forest. Typically, perches upright on horizontal branch, tail pointing straight down, often wingtips hanging below tail; sometimes flicks tail from side to side or upwards. Captures pray by sallying in middle and lower strata. Has been reported as behaving in manner of monarch-flycatcher or fantail. Forages alone or in small groups, joining mixed flock of e.g. Old World warblers, fantails and monarch-flycatchers; flock-leader species changes according to altitude, generally Rusty Pitohui up to 600 m. Variable Pitohui at c. 600-1000 m, Hooded Pitohui c. 1100-1300 m and Black Pitohui from 1200 m to at least 1700 m. Present species benefits by taking insects flushed by flock-members, but may also force other birds to give up captured insects. On the other hand, acts as sentel, giving alarm at approach of predators. Reported as folloving Buff-tailed Sicklebill while foraging on bark and epiphytes; sometimes follows human observer.
Nest a small shallow basket, hung from tree fork. No other nformation available.