Drongo

Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Australian Flora and Fauna and other Australian topics.

What are the physical aspects of Australia?

Drongo

drongo , any of the insect-eating Old World birds of the family Dicruridae. Most species have black plumage with an iridescent purple or green shimmer and long, deeply forked tails. They have long pointed wings and stout, hooked bills ornamented with long bristles about the mouth. Most have ornamental crests or head plumes. Drongos range in body length from 7 to 15 in. (18–38 cm); the tail in some species is as long as 28 in. (71 cm). Solitary, arboreal birds of forests, wooded savannas, and fields, drongos are most numerous in S Asia, but also occur in S Africa and NE Australia. Typical of the family is the king crow, Dicrurus macrocerus, found from India to Java and Taiwan. Drongos are powerful, aggressive birds and will drive off birds much larger than themselves, incidentally providing protection to more docile species that nest in the same trees. Members of some species follow cattle in order to feed on the associated insects. There are about 20 drongo species, classified in two genera, Dicrurus and Chaetorhynchus, of the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Dicruridae.

   

Comments

5/26/2011 7:15:06 PM
Debbie James said:

I have two Drongo's that visit me each year for a few months but sometimes i can have up to five. The main two come every morning and afternoon for a small feed from me which consists of mince that has insectivore rearing mix combined in it. They are so friendly especially one of them who will fly and take it out of my hand and sometimes gets inpatient and hovers right in front of me waiting for me to hand it to him or i can hand it to him while he sits on my clothes line. I get treated with lots of their calls and they keep the insects at bay in my vege garden. They have been coming for around three years now. I dont know where they go for the rest of the year and I would be interested in finding out more about them but they always come back. Such characters and very friendly.




Name:


URL: (optional)


Comment:


Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Australian Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
William Pirraglia