Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely 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). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed 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 at least locally common across much of the range, though is uncommon and restricted at the northern edge of the range in Somalia (Rocamora and Yeatman-Berthelot 2020). There are a minimum of four separate subpopulations given the recognition of four subspecies, though there may be additional population division present. The population is suspected to be very large given the reported level of abundance and frequency of recording across the very large range (eBird 2023).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. While there is a low to moderate rate of forest cover loss across the range of the species, it uses forest edge, degraded forest, some plantations and large gardens and is unlikely to be severely affected by loss of intact forest, where it is less frequently observed.
Text account compilers
Martin, R.
Contributors
Wheatley, H.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Species factsheet: Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/square-tailed-drongo-dicrurus-ludwigii on 15/01/2025.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2025) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 15/01/2025.