Black Racket-tailed Treepie

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Crypsirina Species: temia
Binomial name
Crypsirina temia

The Black Racket-tailed Treepie (Crypsirina temia) has a velvety-black forehead of short, plush black feathers with rest of the bird being an oily green colour, though appearing black in dim light. The tail feathers which in this species are long and broaden at the tails end are black also with a greenish tinge, as are the wings. The iris of the bird is a turquoise-blue darkening towards the pupil to a very deep or near black. The bill, legs and feet are black.

Occours in southern Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indo-China, Sumatra, Java and Bali in scrub and secondary growth, open fields and gardens, Bamboo thickets and open forest often near villages.

Almost always feeds in trees (arboreal) never feeding from the ground though comes down to bathe on occasion. It moves through the trees with great agility and uses it's remarkable tail as a balancing organ. Takes mainly insects and fruit.

A cup shaped nest is built in Bamboo or shrubs especially thorny ones often surrounded by open grassy areas and normally lays 2-4 eggs.

The voice is usually described as harsh and unattractive. It has several described calls but a whining call is often heard.