At this time of the year, the fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), is notably active, especially at last light.
This perceived increase in activity may be due to the insect load diminishing as the environment becomes drier and finding suitable prey becomes more arduous.
Other common names for the fork-tailed drongo include the African drongo, savanna drongo, and common drongo. The drongo is part of the family Dicruridae, the drongo’s main physical attributes are the red-brownish eyes, black plumage, and distinct fork-shaped tail. Body length is about 25 centimetres and on average weigh approximately 50 grammes. Nasal bristles aid as sensory organs. The beak is black and hooked. There is very little difference in external appearances between males and females, the females being slightly less glossy than the males.
Its range is south of the Sahara, preferring temperate, tropic, and sub-tropical areas. Woodland, savanna, grassland, open forest, and riverine areas are all habitat types where drongos occur. Around civilisation they are extremely adaptable to parks, gardens, and farmlands.
The drongo is an omnivorous feeder, its main diet consisting of small insects and fruit. The aloes around the administration complex are currently in spectacular flower, the drongos are visiting the aloes in full force!
Drongos are agile in flight when hawking for insects. They are well known for their aggressive behaviour, often swooping in flight to dive-bomb much larger birds, even raptors, drongos are fearless small birds.
A fascinating ability of a drongo is that it is a master mimic. It replicates alarm calls which in turn causes small mammals (like mongooses in our region) and other birds to leave their food in search of cover. This creates an opportunity for the drongo to move in and steal a meal. This behaviour is known as kleptoparasitism. Drongos are extremely vocal at dawn and dusk, at dusk there is often a display of various flight display patterns from its perch.
Breeding is through forming monogamous pairs, the nest is cup shaped, found high in a tree. Two to five eggs are laid per season from August to January. Incubation is 15 to 18 days. Both parents raise the chicks. Jacobin and African cuckoos parasitise drongo nests where the drongo plays brood host to the cuckoo chicks.
Half a dozen more interesting facts about fork-tailed drongos:
- Extremely intolerant of any predator near its nest, aggressive mobbing of any intruder will ensure.
- Similar looking birds to the drongo are the black-cuckoo shrike and the southern black flycatcher.
- Herbivores are followed at close range which flush out insects for the drongos to eat.
- Breeding season occurs from January to August.
- IUCN (red date list) lists this species as of “Least Concern”
- The drongo enjoys waking up early, is usually one of the first diurnal birds you hear calling.
Fork-tailed drongo image showing hooked beak
Typical pose when perched
Facts researched on the Internet. Words by John Llewellyn. Pictures courtesy Jill Fullard.