Balicassiao (Dicrurus) [XC463900]
by Frank Lambert from Los Banos (near Los Ba\u00f1os), Laguna, Calabarzon, Philippines (call, song)
Balicassiao (Dicrurus) [XC382334]
by Romeo B. Galang, Jr from Sibaliw Research Station Panay, Philippines (song)
Subspecies
Recent DNA studies indicate close relationship with Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus). Both may be part of a superspecies that includes also Ribbon-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus megarhynchus), Sulawesi Drongo (Dicrurus montanus), Sumatran Drongo (Dicrurus sumatranus), Wallacean Drongo (Dicrurus densus), Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) and Ribbon-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus megarhynchus). Considered to be an early inhabitant of Philippine archipelago, not interbreeding with and well differentiated from representatives of related Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) present on western and southern borders of its range. Nominate subspecies intergrades with abraensis in north-central Luzon (in region of Lingayen Gulf). Birds from Mindoro described as additional subspecies, mindorensis, supposedly slightly larger and having metallic reflections of upper breast greenish-blue (instead of bluish-green), but comparison of specimens with a series of nominate allow complete integration in latter.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
abraensis Vaurie, 1947 - Northern Philippines (northern and central Luzon).
balicassius (Linnaeus, 1766) - Northern and central Philippines (central and southern Luzon, Polillo, Lubang, Verde, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet