Dicrurus adsimilis
Fork-tailed Drongo
The Fork-tailed Drongo is a sleek, all-black bird with a distinctive, deeply forked tail. Its plumage has a glossy, iridescent sheen that can appear blue or green in certain lights. The eyes are bright red, contrasting sharply with the black feathers.
Both males and females look alike, with no significant seasonal changes in plumage. Juveniles are similar but duller, with brownish underparts and a less pronounced tail fork.
Length
23cm to 26cm
Wingspan
35cm to 41cm
Weight
40g to 50g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Black
Secondary Colour
Iridescent
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Black
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Fork-tailed Drongos are widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. They inhabit a range of open woodland habitats, including savannah, bushveld, and forest edges.
These birds are non-migratory and maintain year-round territories. They are absent from dense forests and arid regions, preferring areas with scattered trees and open ground.
Sea level to 2,500 meters
Tropical, Subtropical
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Fork-tailed Drongos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects. They catch prey on the wing or by sallying from a perch.
These birds are also known to follow larger animals, catching insects disturbed by their movement.
Fork-tailed Drongos are known for their aggressive behaviour and fearless nature. They often mob larger birds and even mammals to protect their territory.
These birds are also skilled aerial acrobats, catching insects on the wing with impressive agility.
Fork-tailed Drongos are excellent vocal mimics with a wide repertoire of calls. Their natural voice includes harsh, scolding notes and melodious whistles.
They often imitate the alarm calls of other birds, which they use to scare away competitors from food sources. The typical call is a sharp 'kek-kek' or 'skeer-skeer'.
Fork-tailed Drongos form monogamous pairs and breed during the wet season, which varies across their range. They engage in aerial displays and vocalisations during courtship.
The nest is a shallow, cup-shaped structure made of twigs and spider webs, typically placed in the fork of a tree branch. Females lay 2-4 eggs, which are pale cream or pinkish with reddish-brown spots.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 16-17 days. The chicks fledge after approximately 16-20 days but remain dependent on the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.
The Fork-tailed Drongo typically lives for 6 to 12 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
The Fork-tailed Drongo is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large range and stable population. However, like many birds, it faces threats from habitat loss in some areas.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving its woodland and savannah habitats.
Common Drongo, African Drongo
Main predators include larger birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks, as well as some mammals like genets and monkeys that may raid nests.
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other: Oldest recorded trapped bird was 7 years, so thought to live longer
website: BirdLife International. 2024. Dicrurus adsimilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T103710902A263855757.
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