Balicassiao facts for kids

The Balicassiao (Dicrurus balicassius) is a fascinating bird that lives only in the Philippines. It's a type of passerine bird, which means it's a songbird, belonging to the family Dicruridae.

These birds love to live in warm, wet places. You can find them in subtropical or tropical lowland forests where there's lots of moisture and trees.

About the Balicassiao

Balicassiaos are medium-sized birds. Both the male and female birds look very similar. They can be all black, or some might have a white lower chest and belly. One type, called "abraensis," is the largest among them.

How Scientists Name Animals

Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal or plant they are talking about. This system is called binomial nomenclature.

A long time ago, in 1766, a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus gave the Balicassiao its first scientific name: Corvus balicassius. The second part of its name, balicassius, comes from "Balicasiao," which is what people in the Cebuano language call this bird.

Today, the Balicassiao is placed in a group of birds called Dicrurus. This group was named by a French bird expert, Louis Pierre Vieillot, in 1816.