Feeding behaviour and perching preferences of black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) in Ludhiana district (Punjab)
Gursimran Kaur and Tejdeep Kaur Kler
Studies on feeding behaviour and perching preferences of Black Drongo were carried out from January 2017 to December 2017 in the campus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana considered as location I and village Baranhara (district Ludhiana) as location II. The frequency of insect food foraged upon was 72.5% at location I and 65.4% at location II using both aerial and ground feeding modes. The frequency of insect gleaning from plant species was 14.2% and 13.4% at location I and II respectively. Black Drongo showed feeding/foraging sites with 10 different bird species which was due to fine difference in specie specific food niches. The annual average perching height of Black Drongo on electric power lines ranged between 12.93±0.21 m to 13.28±0.21 m and between 12.19±0.23 m to 12.72±0.19 m at location I and location II respectively. The annual average perching height of Black Drongo on trees ranged between 13.43±0.28 m to 15.93±0.45m and between 11.72±0.55 m to 15.40±0.55 m at location I and location II respectively. The trend of perch site utilisation was trees > ground> crop plants > shrubs > electric power lines was found in similar sequence from May to August at both the locations. Utilization pattern of different types of perching sites showed statistical significance between the locations.
Gursimran Kaur, Tejdeep Kaur Kler. Feeding behaviour and perching preferences of black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) in Ludhiana district (Punjab). J Entomol Zool Stud 2018;6(4):232-239.