The composition of mixed-species flocks of birds in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal

A first-of-its-kind study on mixed-species bird flocks (MSFs) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals that drongos and minivets act as nuclear species—leading these flocks despite their aggressive tendencies. Analyzing 222 MSF records comprising 100 species and 6,097 individuals, researchers found a dominance of canopy-dwelling, non-terrestrial insectivores, deviating from global patterns where understory gregarious species typically lead. Drongos, while known to manipulate other flock members, serve as sentinel species, providing critical predation risk alerts. This suggests that MSFs led by sentinels may be a widespread phenomenon in Asia, mirroring Neotropical patterns. The study highlights the ecological role of drongos in MSF dynamics and contributes to the understanding of avian social behavior in South Asian ecosystems.

Gosai, K. R., & Goodale, E. (2021). The composition of mixed-species flocks of birds in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Avian Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00292-3