Spangled Drongo
Dicrurus bracteatus
All-black songbird with decurved bill and long, cleft tail that curves up at the end. Adult has bright red eye, young birds dark-eyed. Plumage shows metallic iridescence in optimal light. Metallic Starling has finer bill, tapered tail. Inhabits great variety of habitats, where it chases insects mercilessly. Perches prominently, delivering harsh, squawking calls, often mimicking other species such as butcherbirds and kingfishers.
Identification
Its basically black plumage is iridescent with blue and purple highlights. Its eyes are crimson.The most remarkable characteristic of its appearance is its tail, which is described by Morcombe as "long, outcurved and forked" and on first examination looks like its feathers are crossed over – like crossing your fingers. Young drongos lack the highlights and spots and their eyes are dark brown.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Dicrurus bracteatus
- Authority
- Gould, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Dicruridae
- Genus
- Dicrurus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The spangled drongo displays uninhibited and sometimes comical behaviour as it swoops and perches in search of insects, small birds, and occasionally, small skinks. When it seasonally visits urban areas, it is easily tamed by throwing small pieces of raw meat into the air, when it will accurately swoop and catch them midair.<p>Whilst this bird is often silent, it sometimes makes astonishingly loud, complex, and entertaining calls that may sound like a "sneeze". The spangled drongo is an amazing mimic, taking most of its vocabulary from the sounds heard in the vicinity and weaving them into a song.<p>The spangled drongo is the only drongo to be found in Australia. These birds are altitudinal and latitudinal migrants, and in the high-altitude areas around Brisbane in Queensland, they arrive in late spring and leave with their new crop of juveniles in midsummer. Nests are cup-shaped in open spaces, where predators have difficulty accessing them without being seen, 75% up the canopy. Each year, they produce three to five young.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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