Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be sufficiently small to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as fairly common to uncommon (Grimmett et al. 1998, Rocamora et al. 2020, Eaton et al. 2021).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be declining slowly due to habitat loss within its range. In the three generations to 2022, forest cover loss in its range was c.9% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) and this is thought to be ongoing. However, the species also occurs in secondary growth, dense scrub and forest edge, and it is also reportedly tolerant of degraded forest and plantations; it is therefore unlikely to be declining particularly rapidly. Trapping for the Indonesian songbird trade has also been identified as a threat, with the species appearing in low numbers on physical market survey inventories (Chng et al. 2016, 2018) and online marketplace platforms (Okarda et al. 2022), though this is thought unlikely to be causing significant reductions in global population size. Declines are here placed in the range 1-9% in three generations.
Dicrurus hottentottus has a very large range extending from peninsular India (Western Ghats; West Bengal and Odisha south through Eastern Ghats to northern Tamil Nadu), Himalayan foothills from east Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, through Nepal and east to Bangladesh, Bhutan and northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, southern Assam hills), Myanmar (south to Tenasserim), northern Thailand, China (southeastern Xizang, western Yunnan, south from Hebei and Jiangsu), Cambodia, Lao P. D. R., Viet Nam, Philippines (southwestern Sulu Archipelago), Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia: Borneo, Maratua Island (off east Borneo), mainland Sulawesi and surrounding archipelagos, western Java, east Java, Bali, and islands in the Java Sea (Masalembu Besar Islands, Kangean Islands and Matasiri Island), Banggai Islands, off east Sulawesi, Sula and Obi islands (Moluccas), Panaitan (Prinsen) Islands and islands in Jakarta Bay. It is generally resident, except in the northern part of the range where most breeders migrate to Indochina, Thailand and lower Myanmar.
It inhabits mostly broadleaf evergreen and moist deciduous forest and edge, secondary growth and thick scrub (Rocamora et al. 2020, Eaton et al. 2021).
The main threat to this species is forest loss in its range (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein) as a result of both regulated and illegal logging, agricultural expansion, industrial timber production, easy road access to protected areas, mine exploitation and other human factors (Rocamora et al. 2020). However, this species is not restricted to primary forest and is unlikely to be declining particularly rapidly. Trapping for the Indonesian songbird trade has also been identified as a threat, with the species appearing in low numbers on physical market survey inventories (Chng et al. 2016, 2018) and online marketplace platforms (Okarda et al. 2022), though this is thought unlikely to be causing significant reductions in global population size.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species. Some of its range lies in protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Undertake surveys to determine the species' population size and trends. Continue to monitor habitat trends using remote sensing data. Protect significant areas of remaining habitat.
Text account compilers
Vine, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/hair-crested-drongo-dicrurus-hottentottus on 11/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 11/12/2024.