The black drongo is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. It is an all black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. It feeds on insects, and is common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Common across the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, southern China, Indochina, and parts of Indonesia. It favors open agricultural land, grasslands, scrub, forest edges, and urban parks and villages. The species uses exposed perches such as fence posts and power lines for hunting and territory display. It avoids dense, closed-canopy forests but adapts well to human-modified landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Black drongos are fearless aerial insect hunters that often perch on wires and exposed branches in open country. They aggressively mob much larger birds of prey and are nicknamed the 'king crow' in parts of South Asia. They frequently follow ploughs, grazing livestock, and grass fires to snatch flushed insects, and have been observed giving false alarm calls to kleptoparasitize other birds.
Black drongo foraging at the edge of fires
![Black drongo sunning or possibly anting[24]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Black_Drongo_I2_IMG_5683.jpg/640px-Black_Drongo_I2_IMG_5683.jpg)
Black drongo sunning or possibly anting[24]
Nest in West Bengal
Fully fledged young yet to develop the forked tail
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
In flight, Nepal.
Temperament
bold and aggressive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile sallies and brief glides
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, becoming more gregarious outside the breeding season. Strongly territorial during breeding, vigorously mobbing raptors and crows. Builds an open cup nest high in a tree; both parents defend the nest and feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Voice is varied with sharp metallic notes, harsh chattering, and buzzy calls. It includes mimicry of other species and alarm-like notes used both for territorial defense and opportunistic theft.
