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Difference between revisions of "Fork-tailed Drongo" - BirdForum Opus

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;Dicrurus adsimilis
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[[Image:TZP FTDrongo SER7662.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult showing red eye, subspecies ''D. a. fugax''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|mikemik|mikemik}}<br /> Serengeti, [[Tanzania]] , 13 May 2018]]
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[[Image:Fork-tailed_Drongo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Leon]]
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'''Alternative name: African Drongo'''
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;[[: Category:Dicrurus|Dicrurus]] adsimilis
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
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The male is mainly glossy black, although the wings are duller. It is large-headed and has the forked tail which gives the species its name. The female is similar but less glossy. The bill is black and heavy, and the eye is red. The Fork-tailed Drongo is 25 cm long and 45 g heavy. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike.
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23–26 cm (9-10 in)<br />
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*Glossy black overall plumage
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*Wings duller
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*Large head
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*Forked tail
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*Heavy black bill
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*Red eye
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*Short legs
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'''Female''' similar but duller
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====Variations====
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Formerly the population in Tanzania and much of Kenya were assigned to the nominate race, ''D. a. adsimilis'' now placed within the range of ''D. a. fugax''. It is described as smaller with a more deeply forked tail.
 +
====Similar species====
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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 ==
 
== Distribution ==
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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]].
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The Fork-tailed Drongo is a common and widespread resident breeder in [[Africa]] south of the Sahara, being most common in [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]] and the northern parts of [[South Africa]] and [[Mozambique]].
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Kingdom: Animalia<br />
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[[Image:2007 08 21 F-t Drongo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature, nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Cedara Farm, Pietermaritzburg, [[South Africa]], 21 August 2007]]
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Phylum: Chordata<br />
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Forms a [[Dictionary_P-S#S|superspecies]] with [[Black Drongo]] of Asia and was formerly regarded as [[Dictionary_A-C#C|conspecific]]. They were split in 2007 by Pasquet et al.<sup>[[#References|[5]]]</sup>The combined pre-split species was known as "Common Drongo" or just "Drongo."  Former subspecies ''D. a. divaricatus'' now recognized as a separate species, the [[Glossy-backed Drongo]].
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Class: Aves<br />
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====Subspecies====
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Order: Passeriformes<br />
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Four subspecies recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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Family: Dicruridae<br />
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* ''D. a. apivorus'':
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Genus: ''Dicrurus''<br />
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:*Southeast [[Gabon]] and adjacent [[Congo]], patchily in [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Angola]], [[Zambia]], [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]] and northern [[South Africa]] (northern Northern Cape to Limpopo)
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Species: ''D. adsimilis''
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* ''D. a. jubaensis'': (formerly considered a junior synonym of ''D. a. divaricatus'')
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:*Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia
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* ''D. a. fugax'':
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:*Southern [[Uganda]] and [[Kenya]] to northern [[Natal]] and [[Zimbabwe]]
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* ''D. a. adsimilis'':
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:*Eastern and southern [[South Africa]] (southwestern Western Cape north to southern Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal), [[Lesotho]], and western [[Swaziland]]
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Former subspecies ''D. a. divaricatus'' now recognized as a separate species [[Glossy-backed Drongo]].<sup>[[#References|[6]]]</sup>
  
 
== Habitat ==
 
== Habitat ==
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[[Image:SG103047.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Hovering waiting for insects to be kicked up by the baby giraffe<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|AHH|AHH}}<br />[[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], 9 July 2007]]
 
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 ==
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These are aggressive and fearless birds, given their small size, and will attack much larger species, including birds of prey, snakes and humans, if their nest or young are threatened. They are attracted to bush fires.
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====Actions====
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<P>It flycatches or take prey from the ground, feeding on flying insects, moths and bees. Often stealing food from other birds.
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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.
−
<P>
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====Diet====
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Monogamous, solitary nester building thin-walled, strongly woven cup nests in high tree-forks. Two to five eggs of highly varying colour.
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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 (Meerkats) and [[Southern Pied Babbler]]s by sounding false alarms.
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== Bird Call ==
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The call is a metallic ''strink-strink''.
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====Breeding====
 +
[[Dictionary_M-O#M|Monogamous]], solitary nester building thin-walled, strongly woven cup nests in high tree-forks. Two to five eggs of highly varying colour.
 +
====Vocalisation====
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The call is a metallic ''strink-strink''. They are also excellent mimics.
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====Movements====
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Resident; possibly some short-distance movements in southern part of range.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#Birdforum member observations
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#Rocamora, G. and D. Yeatman-Berthelot (2020). Fork-tailed Drongo (''Dicrurus adsimilis''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.fotdro5.01
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#Pasquet, Eric; Jean-Marc Pons;Jerome Fuchs; Corinne Cruaud & Vincent Bretagnolle (2007). "Evolutionary history and biogeography of the drongos (Dicruridae), a tropical Old World clade of corvoid passerines." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45 (1): 158–167. [http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2007/PMPE45.pdf PDF]
 +
#Fuchs, J, De Swardt, DH, Oatley, G, Fjeldså, J, Bowie, RCK. (2018) Habitat‐driven diversification, hybridization and cryptic diversity in the Fork‐tailed Drongo (Passeriformes: Dicruridae: ''Dicrurus adsimilis''). Zool Scr. 47:266– 284. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12274
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Dicrurus+adsimilis}}
 
{{GSearch|Dicrurus+adsimilis}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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<br />
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{{Video|Fork_tailed_Drongo}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Dicrurus]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 03:18, 1 April 2020

Adult showing red eye, subspecies D. a. fugax
Photo © by mikemik
Serengeti, Tanzania , 13 May 2018

Alternative name: African Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Identification

23–26 cm (9-10 in)

  • Glossy black overall plumage
  • Wings duller
  • Large head
  • Forked tail
  • Heavy black bill
  • Red eye
  • Short legs

Female similar but duller

Variations

Formerly the population in Tanzania and much of Kenya were assigned to the nominate race, D. a. adsimilis now placed within the range of D. a. fugax. It is described as smaller with a more deeply forked tail.

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, being most common in Botswana, Zimbabwe and the northern parts of South Africa and Mozambique.

Taxonomy

Immature, nominate subspecies
Photo © by Alan Manson
Cedara Farm, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 21 August 2007

Forms a superspecies with Black Drongo of Asia and was formerly regarded as conspecific. They were split in 2007 by Pasquet et al.[5]The combined pre-split species was known as "Common Drongo" or just "Drongo." Former subspecies D. a. divaricatus now recognized as a separate species, the Glossy-backed Drongo.

Subspecies

Four subspecies recognized[1]:

  • D. a. apivorus:
  • D. a. jubaensis: (formerly considered a junior synonym of D. a. divaricatus)
  • Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia
  • D. a. fugax:
  • D. a. adsimilis:
  • Eastern and southern South Africa (southwestern Western Cape north to southern Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal), Lesotho, and western Swaziland

Former subspecies D. a. divaricatus now recognized as a separate species Glossy-backed Drongo.[6]

Habitat

Hovering waiting for insects to be kicked up by the baby giraffe
Photo © by AHH
Kruger National Park, South Africa, 9 July 2007

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

Actions

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 (Meerkats) 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.

Movements

Resident; possibly some short-distance movements in southern part of range.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. 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
  3. Birdforum member observations
  4. Rocamora, G. and D. Yeatman-Berthelot (2020). Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.fotdro5.01
  5. Pasquet, Eric; Jean-Marc Pons;Jerome Fuchs; Corinne Cruaud & Vincent Bretagnolle (2007). "Evolutionary history and biogeography of the drongos (Dicruridae), a tropical Old World clade of corvoid passerines." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45 (1): 158–167. PDF
  6. Fuchs, J, De Swardt, DH, Oatley, G, Fjeldså, J, Bowie, RCK. (2018) Habitat‐driven diversification, hybridization and cryptic diversity in the Fork‐tailed Drongo (Passeriformes: Dicruridae: Dicrurus adsimilis). Zool Scr. 47:266– 284. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12274

Recommended Citation

External Links


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