Name that bird - all black with very long tail

[simon43]

Alas, no photos. I spotted a pair of these birds in the rubber trees next to my Phuket hotel.

The bird is medium-large, about the size of aBritish Magpie. It seems to be completely black. It sits in the rubber trees and flies between different trees, displaying a very long feathered tail, about the same length as the body of the bird - (so this seems the most identifiable feature).

Any Ornithon.. ortnithorn... bird-watchers know what this bird might be?

[AYJAYDEE]

a drongo

[simon43]

It's not a Drongo. From the Google photos, that bird has a very small tail when compared to this bird. As I watch it sitting in the rubber trees, its tail hangs down about 20cm in length, appearing thin at the body point and most of the tail length, then widening out at the tip.

Got it!

Racket-tailed treepie

As the Google description says, it is oily green, but looks black in the dim light of the rubber plantation.

[Tywais]

Does sound like a Greater racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus). I see them around Chiang Mai on occasion. Wiki

[simon43]

Does sound like a Greater racket-tailed Drongo

Oh dear, you might well be right.

Wait a moment - I'll go and shoot it so I can get a closer look

[kannot]

was it this fella ??

[AYJAYDEE]

Does sound like a Greater racket-tailed Drongo

Oh dear, you might well be right.

Wait a moment - I'll go and shoot it so I can get a closer look

ahem

[dotpoom]

was it this fella ??

Looks a bit like a swallow?

[roblgs]

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus), and they are about the size you describe, the behaviour too.

[jacko45k]

I get the Greater racket-tailed Drongo pictured above with the trailing feathers.

I think this is the one that can make an eerie cat-like sound.

It seems to flit around chasing insects at sunset.

[Guest]

Here is another one from Phuket.

[Tonawatchee]

Their flight pattern is like an ocean wave, wings flapping and rising up in the air then stalling and dropping down a little and flapping and rising up again. They eventually get there.

[KhnomKhnom]

I know that bird....... it is a LONG TAILED BLACK BIRD.

[toooa]

Sounds like a Drongo's flight pattern....

[herb59]

name is blacklongtail bird.

[Mudcrab]

I asked the bride about the bird. She said it is called lunch or dinner, depending on the time of day you catch it. Love the Issan girls.

[NeverSure]

was it this fella ??

Looks a bit like a swallow?

Looks like more than one swallow to me. You'd have to remove the feathers and cut it into bite sized pieces.

[isanbirder]

Notwithstanding this thread's usual quota of idiots (now, now, it's Christmas!), it sounds more like a male Koel, or rather two male Koels. I saw a pair together the other day, having a chat (well, that's exactly what it looked like). Common, and very noisy and repetitive.

[simon43]

Their flight pattern is like an ocean wave, wings flapping and rising up in the air then stalling and dropping down a little and flapping and rising up again. They eventually get there.

Yes, this was definitely their flying pattern until I shot them - an 'ex' Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo it is - I mean was

As least it won't be wasted for the cooking pot. As my 'Issan' ex always says ' The tastiest bits are the eyes'

(Many jokes above, but truthful about the ex)

[Wombat6]

The Bird you describe is a Cuckoo. It ranges over a large part of Asia and Northern Australia. you will notice Brown feathers under the wings (the female I think)

[Daniel Boon]

Grace Jones?

[ATF]

Grace Jones?

Hey Daniel how did your meet with Cypress go?

He hasn't been around for a while. Is he eating through a straw now?

[Daniel Boon]

to this day, I have not met cypress hill, would not know him if I fell over him ... I was at Walkabout Creek Pub (Pattaya) twice on the 16th ...

I think there is a clear distinction between having a go at someone (Aussies like attacking humour), but not the stand over bullshit; ThaiVisa has been both a blessing and a curse, but I have learned a lot about myself (and how to conduct myself better) by reading the many articulations of people speaking frankly ... all the best for Christmas

[fatfather]

Coucal crow?

Fatfather

[kannot]

Notwithstanding this thread's usual quota of idiots (now, now, it's Christmas!), it sounds more like a male Koel, or rather two male Koels. I saw a pair together the other day, having a chat (well, that's exactly what it looked like). Common, and very noisy and repetitive.

On e of the stupid buggers flew into the wall of my house and knocked itself out, it then started puking up red berries it had eaten, I wrapped it in a towel and covered its head, 5 minutes later it was ok and flew off, fantastic red eyes, devil like!!!