Scientific Name: Dicrurus caerulescens

IUCN status: Least Concern

Closely resembling the Ashy Drongo, the white-bellied drongo is composed of a whiter belly, and can be seen as a resident species in India and Sri Lanka. The intensity of the white belly parts vary according to the individual and there is intergradation of color. The Sri Lankan forms leucopygialis (southern wet zone) and insularis (northern dry zone) are significantly darker compared to the Indian members of this species. Like most drongos, this species can mimic sounds from other avian species, including feline pets and squirrels. The white-bellied drongos are seen abundantly as perched birds that do aerobic sallies (a venture into air outside of its normal pathway) to capture insects as part of their diets. The White-bellied Drongo is found all over Sri Lanka. For both the Ashy Drongo and the White-bellied Drongo, the eyes are colored fiery red. The distinctness of the White-bellied Drongo from the Ashy Drongo, is yet to be established using phylogenetic means.