Dicrurus macrocercus
The Black Drongo, scientifically known as Dicrurus macrocercus, is a sleek and agile passerine bird distinguished by its entirely glossy black plumage and a deeply forked tail that gracefully spreads during flight. Measuring approximately 26-30 cm (10-12 inches) in length and weighing between 40-60 grams, it possesses striking red eyes in adults, which are brown in juveniles. Its prominent upright posture on perches, combined with its swift, acrobatic flight and fearless demeanor, are key fie...
Found primarily in open country, agricultural fields, scrubland, and urban parks, the Black Drongo thrives near human habitation. It prefers lowlands and moderate elevations, rarely ascending above 2,000 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of insects, including grasshoppers, cicadas, termites, moths, butterflies, and bees, captured mid-air or gleaned from vegetation. They also occasionally consume small vertebrates, nectar, and grains.
Black Drongos are diurnal and often conspicuous, perching on prominent vantage points like power lines, fences, or tree branches to survey their surroundings. They are masterful aerial insectivores, employing a 'sally-and-return' foraging technique, darting out to catch flying insects and returni...
The Black Drongo has an extensive geographic distribution across much of Asia, primarily functioning as a resident species throughout its range. Its breeding range covers a vast area from southeastern Iran and southern Afghanistan, across the Indian subcontinent (including Pakistan, India, Sri La...
Least Concern
- The Black Drongo is widely known as the 'King Crow' in many parts of Asia due to its fearless and aggressive nature, often mobbing much larger birds of prey. - They are expert aerial insectivores, capable of acrobatic maneuvers to catch insects mid-flight. - Black Drongos frequently associate w...