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| − | [[Image:Fork-tailed_Drongo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Leon|Leon}}]] | + | [[Image:Fork-tailed_Drongo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Leon|Leon}}<br />Rust de winter, Pretoria, [[South Africa]], May 2004]] |
'''Alternative name: African Drongo''' | '''Alternative name: African Drongo''' | ||
;[[: Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] adsimilis | ;[[: Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] adsimilis | ||
== Identification == | == Identification == | ||
| − | + | 25 cm<br /> | |
| + | *Glossy black | ||
| + | *Wings duller | ||
| + | *Large head | ||
| + | *Forked tail | ||
| + | *Heavy black bill | ||
| + | *Red eye | ||
| + | *Short legs | ||
| + | '''Female''' similar but duller | ||
====Similar species==== | ====Similar species==== | ||
Differs from similar [[Velvet-mantled Drongo]] in having tail shorter than wing, a less deep tail fork, slightly less gloss and no pale rictal spot. [[Square-tailed Drongo]] and [[Shining Drongo]] are smaller and have a less forked tail. | Differs from similar [[Velvet-mantled Drongo]] in having tail shorter than wing, a less deep tail fork, slightly less gloss and no pale rictal spot. [[Square-tailed Drongo]] and [[Shining Drongo]] are smaller and have a less forked tail. | ||
| + | [[Image:2007 08 21 F-t Drongo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Cedara Farm, Pietermaritzburg, [[South Africa]], August 2007]] | ||
== Distribution == | == Distribution == | ||
The Fork-tailed Drongo is a common and widespread resident breeder in [[Africa]] south of the Sahara with being most comon in [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]] and the northern parts of [[South Africa]] and [[Mozambique]]. | The Fork-tailed Drongo is a common and widespread resident breeder in [[Africa]] south of the Sahara with being most comon in [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]] and the northern parts of [[South Africa]] and [[Mozambique]]. | ||
| − | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Four subspecies recognized: | + | Forms a superspecies with [[Black Drongo]] and is sometimes regarded conspecific. |
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | Four subspecies recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
* ''D. a. divaricatus'' in southwest [[Mauritania]], [[Senegal]], [[Gambia]] and [[Guinea]] east to northern [[Cameroon]], south [[Chad]], central and south [[Sudan]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]] and [[Somalia]] and south to [[Central African Republic]], northern [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], northern [[Uganda]] and northern [[Kenya]] | * ''D. a. divaricatus'' in southwest [[Mauritania]], [[Senegal]], [[Gambia]] and [[Guinea]] east to northern [[Cameroon]], south [[Chad]], central and south [[Sudan]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]] and [[Somalia]] and south to [[Central African Republic]], northern [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], northern [[Uganda]] and northern [[Kenya]] | ||
* ''D. a. apivorus'' in southeast [[Gabon]] and adjacent [[Congo]], patchily in [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Angola]], [[Zambia]], [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]] and northern [[South Africa]] | * ''D. a. apivorus'' in southeast [[Gabon]] and adjacent [[Congo]], patchily in [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Angola]], [[Zambia]], [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]] and northern [[South Africa]] | ||
* ''D. a. fugax'' in [[Uganda]], [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]] south to eastern [[Zambia]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[Botswana]], northeast [[South Africa]] and east [[Swaziland]] | * ''D. a. fugax'' in [[Uganda]], [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]] south to eastern [[Zambia]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[Botswana]], northeast [[South Africa]] and east [[Swaziland]] | ||
* ''D. a. adsimilis'' in west [[Swaziland]], [[Lesotho]] and east and south [[South Africa]] | * ''D. a. adsimilis'' in west [[Swaziland]], [[Lesotho]] and east and south [[South Africa]] | ||
| − | |||
== Habitat == | == Habitat == | ||
Woodlands including riverine woodlands, moist and arid savanna, forest edges and grassland or fynbos with available perches, plantations of alien trees, gardens, farmyards and town parks. | Woodlands including riverine woodlands, moist and arid savanna, forest edges and grassland or fynbos with available perches, plantations of alien trees, gardens, farmyards and town parks. | ||
== Behaviour == | == Behaviour == | ||
| − | + | Sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike.<br /> | |
| − | Their prey is taken aerially and on the ground, and includes flying insects, moths and bees; most often | + | An aggressive bird, which will attack much larger species, including birds of prey, snakes and humans, if their nest or young are threatened. |
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Their prey is taken aerially and on the ground, and includes flying insects, moths and bees; most often they will sit on a branch and sally out from there, but it may also be sitting on the ground. They are often seen taking prey disturbed by large animals or bush fires. They also often steal food from other birds, and have been known to steal food from suricates and [[Southern Pied Babbler]]s by sounding false alarms. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Monogamous, solitary nester building thin-walled, strongly woven cup nests in high tree-forks. Two to five eggs of highly varying colour. | Monogamous, solitary nester building thin-walled, strongly woven cup nests in high tree-forks. Two to five eggs of highly varying colour. | ||
| Line 26: | Line 37: | ||
The call is a metallic ''strink-strink''. They are also excellent mimics. | The call is a metallic ''strink-strink''. They are also excellent mimics. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Birdforum member observations |
| + | #Wikipedia | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Dicrurus+adsimilis}} | {{GSearch|Dicrurus+adsimilis}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Dicrurus]] | + | <br /> |
| + | {{Video|Fork_tailed_Drongo}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Dicrurus]] [[Category:Videos]] | ||
Revision as of 11:57, 6 November 2013
Alternative name: African Drongo
- Dicrurus adsimilis
Identification
25 cm
- Glossy black
- Wings duller
- Large head
- Forked tail
- Heavy black bill
- Red eye
- Short legs
Female similar but duller
Similar species
Differs from similar Velvet-mantled Drongo in having tail shorter than wing, a less deep tail fork, slightly less gloss and no pale rictal spot. Square-tailed Drongo and Shining Drongo are smaller and have a less forked tail.
Distribution
The Fork-tailed Drongo is a common and widespread resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara with being most comon in Botswana, Zimbabwe and the northern parts of South Africa and Mozambique.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Black Drongo and is sometimes regarded conspecific.
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- D. a. divaricatus in southwest Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea east to northern Cameroon, south Chad, central and south Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia and south to Central African Republic, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Uganda and northern Kenya
- D. a. apivorus in southeast Gabon and adjacent Congo, patchily in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa
- D. a. fugax in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania south to eastern Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, northeast South Africa and east Swaziland
- D. a. adsimilis in west Swaziland, Lesotho and east and south South Africa
Habitat
Woodlands including riverine woodlands, moist and arid savanna, forest edges and grassland or fynbos with available perches, plantations of alien trees, gardens, farmyards and town parks.
Behaviour
Sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike.
An aggressive bird, which will attack much larger species, including birds of prey, snakes and humans, if their nest or young are threatened.
Diet
Their prey is taken aerially and on the ground, and includes flying insects, moths and bees; most often they will sit on a branch and sally out from there, but it may also be sitting on the ground. They are often seen taking prey disturbed by large animals or bush fires. They also often steal food from other birds, and have been known to steal food from suricates and Southern Pied Babblers by sounding false alarms.
Breeding
Monogamous, solitary nester building thin-walled, strongly woven cup nests in high tree-forks. Two to five eggs of highly varying colour.
Vocalisation
The call is a metallic strink-strink. They are also excellent mimics.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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
- Birdforum member observations
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Fork-tailed Drongo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Fork-tailed_Drongo
External Links
