Alternative name: Madagascar Crested Drongo
- Dicrurus forficatus
Identification
26 - 30,5cm. The only drongo in its range.
- Uniformely deep lustrous black plumage glossed with dark greenish-blue
- Long and moderately forked tail
- Strong, broad-based bill
- Tuft of elongated frontal feathers at base of bill forming a slightly curving crest
- Dark red eye
Sexes similar, females slightly smaller and browner. Immatures have a dark brown plumage, mixed with whitish.
Similar species
Very similar to Fork-tailed Drongo but differs in presence of frontal crest
Distribution
Found on Madagascar and Anjouan (Comoro Islands).
The nominate is common in its range, however potior is uncommon to rare.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies:
- D. f. fortificatus on Madagascar and ajacent island (Nosy Bé, Nosy Komba and Nosy Boraha)
- D. f. potior on Anjouan (Ndzuani), Comoro Islands
Habitat
Present in all wooded habitats. May have benefited from human activities and is found in all man-made rural habitats. Occurs from sea-level up to 1875m.
Behaviour
Feeds on invertebrates, small vertebrates (like small chameleons) and fruit.
Often seen perching prominently and sallying out to capture large insects on the wing.
In Madagascar also in mixed-species flocks.
Breeding season from September to December (October to February in southeastern dry areas). Aggressively territorial and harrassing and chasing any other animal coming to close to nest. The nest is a small and shallow cup made from fine vegetable fibres and bound together with spider webs. It's placed 2.5 to 14m above ground in a tree. Lays 2-4 eggs.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Crested Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crested_Drongo
