Spangled Drongo

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Spangled Drongo

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Dicruridae
Genus:	Dicrurus
Species:	D. bracteatus

Binomial name

Dicrurus bracteatus
(Gould, 1842)

For the Asian species sometimes referred to by the same common name see Hair-crested Drongo

The Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) is a bird of the family Dicruridae.

The Spangled Drongo is the only Drongo to be found in Australia. "Drongo" is Australian slang for "idiot", possibly referring to the bird's uninhibited and sometimes comical behaviour as it swoops and perches in search of insects.

Whilst this bird is often silent, it sometimes makes astonishingly loud, complex and entertaining calls.

The most remarkable characteristic of its appearance is its tail, which is described by Morcombe as "long, outcurved and forked" and on first examination looks like its feathers are crossed over - like crossing your fingers.

Its basically black plumage is iridescent with blue and purple highlights. When it - seasonally - visits urban areas it is easily tamed by throwing small pieces of raw meat into the air, when it will accurately swoop and catch them mid-air.

The Spangled Drongo is an amazing mimic taking most of her vocabulary from the sounds she hears and weaving them into her own virtuoso aria.

Spangled Drongo in Cairns

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Dicrurus bracteatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Michael Morcombe (2003) Field Guide to Australian Birds, Steve Parish Publishing