Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (mainland), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore (B), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) [XC88012]
by vir joshi from Andong Bor Community Forest, Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia (single note)
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) [XC870782]
by David Edwards from Forest between Na Pe and Na Sao, Khamkeuth, Bolikhamsai, Laos (call)
Subspecies
In the past sometimes placed in genus Dissemurus. May form a superspecies with Sri Lanka Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus) and often treated as conspecific, but differs in tail morphology and probably in voice. Molecular-genetic studies required in order to elucidate true relationship between the two. Few intergrades between Sri Lanka subspecies ceylonicus and Sri Lanka Drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus) reported in past along border between wet and dry zones, but interbreeding not now possible, since suitable habitat no longer remains between the two ecological zones, now completely separated. Geographical variation based mainly on biometrics, but exhibits parallel clinal decrease in size from north to southern in both western and eastern parts of range. Subspecies rangoonensis intergrades with grandis in northern and with nominate in south; birds from central and southern India described as subspecies malabaricus, but considered intermediates; hypoballus intergrades with nominate in north of its range and with platurus in south.
Proposed subspecies adelphus (from Nias I), described on basis solely of difference in wing measurements, synonymized with platurus. Island subspecies (including those in Borneo) very similar to one another. Further studies would probably lead to reduction in number of accepted subspecies.
The following 13 subspecies are recognised:
grandis (Gould, 1836) - Southern foothills of Himalayas from northern India (Kumaon) east to extreme northern Assam, northern Myanmar (south to northern Chin Hills and northern Shan States), southern China (extreme south-eastern Xizang, western and southern Yunnan) and northern Indochina.
rangoonensis (Gould, 1836) - Central India, Bangladesh, central and southern Myanmar (southern Chin Hills, southern Shan States south to northern Tenasserim), northern and north-eastern Thailand, central Laos and central Vietnam.
paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1766) - Southern peninsular India, southern Myanmar (Tenasserim and Mergui Archipelago), south-west, central and south-eastern Thailand and southern Indochina.
ceylonicus Vaurie, 1949 - Northern, eastern and southern Sri Lanka.
otiosus (Richmond, 1902) - Andaman Is.
nicobariensis (Baker, ECS, 1918) - Nicobar Is.
johni (Hartert, 1902) - Hainan I (southern China).
platurus Vieillot, 1817 - Peninsular Malaysia south of 4° northern (including islands except Tioman I), Sumatra (including Simeulue, Banyak Is and Nias I), Riau Archipelago, Lingga Archipelago and Bangka I.
microlophus (Oberholser, 1917) - Islands in southern China Sea (Tioman I, Anambas Is and northern Natunas).
banguey (Chasen & Kloss, 1929) - Balambangan I and Banggi I, off northern Borneo coast.
brachyphorus (Bonaparte, 1850) - Borneo, including Laut I (off south-eastern coast).
formosus (Cabanis, 1851) - Java and Bali.
Similar Species
When rackets are not developed with Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectens) which has a more deeply forked tail with turned-up tips.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet