State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 02 May 2025

Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo

Why in News? 

A greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) was spotted in Jhanjhrola, Gurugram marking the bird’s first recorded sighting in the district. 

 

Key Points 

• About Greater Racket-tailed Drongo: 
  • Appearance: 
    • A medium-sized bird native to Asia, notable for its elongated outer tail feathers with webbing only at the tips. 
    • Diurnal in nature but remains active before dawn and after dusk. 
  • Vocal Abilities: 
    • Known for producing a variety of loud calls, including accurate imitations of other bird species. 
  • Distribution in India: 
    • Found from the western to eastern Himalayas, including the Mishmi Hills. 
    • It also inhabits hilly regions of peninsular India and the Western Ghats. 
  • Conservation Status: 
    • IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern  
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV 
  • Migratory Pattern: 
    • The species is usually found in moist, dense forests along the Himalayan foothills and terai regions. 
    • It rarely descends to lower elevations, except marginally during snowfall in the higher ranges. 
    • It is an altitudinal migrant, not commonly seen in the National Capital Region (NCR). 

 IUCN Red List 

• The IUCN Red List is the foremost global resource for assessing the risk of extinction among animals, fungi, and plant species. 
• Accessible to all, it serves as a crucial indicator of global biodiversity health, it offers comprehensive insights into species' characteristics, threats, and conservation measures, playing a pivotal role in shaping informed conservation decisions and policies. 
• The IUCN Red List Categories define the extinction risk of species assessed. Nine categories extend from NE (Not Evaluated) to EX (Extinct). Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be threatened with extinction. 
  • It is also a key indicator for the Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Targets. 
• The IUCN Red List includes the IUCN Green Status of Species, which assesses the recovery of species’ populations and measures their conservation success. 
  • There are eight Green Status Categories: Extinct in the Wild, Critically Depleted, Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, Fully Recovered, Non-Depleted and Indeterminate. 
  • A Green Status assessment examines how conservation actions have affected the current Red List status.