The Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is a small Asian passerine bird The species is known for its aggressive behavior towards much larger birds that invade its territory. The Black drongo has been introduced to some Pacific islands, where it has thrived and become abundant to the point of threatening and causing the extinction of native and endemic bird species there.
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withBlack drongos are glossy black birds with a wide fork to the tail. Adults usually have a small white spot at the base of the gape. The iris is dark brown (not crimson as in the similar ashy drongo). The sexes cannot be told apart in the field. Juveniles are brownish and may have some white barring or speckling towards the belly and vent, and can be mistaken for the white-bellied drongo. First-year birds have white tips to the feathers of the belly, while second-years have these white-tipped feathers restricted to the vent. Black drongos fly with strong flaps of the wing and are capable of fast maneuvers that enable them to capture flying insects. With short legs, they sit upright on thorny bushes, bare perches, or electricity wires. They may also perch on grazing animals.
Black drongos are found as summer visitors to northeastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan but are residents from the Indus Valley until Bangladesh and into India and Sri Lanka. Some populations make seasonal movements that are poorly understood; populations in Korea are known to be migratory. Black drongos inhabit open habitats such as savannas, shrublands, grasslands, fields, and urban areas.
Black drongos become active very early at dawn and roost later than many other birds. They feed late in the evening or night, often on insects attracted to artificial lights. Black drongos can often be seen sitting upright on thorny bushes, bare perches, or electricity wires. They may also perch on grazing animals. They usually perch and hunt close to the ground. Black drongos are mostly aerial predators of insects but also glean from the ground or off vegetation. They sometimes fly close to tree branches, attempting to disturb any insects that may be present. They congregate in fields being ploughed, picking up exposed caterpillars and beetle grubs. As many as 35 birds have been seen at such congregations. They are also attracted to fires in scrub and grasslands habitats where insects are disturbed. Black drongos often associate with Common mynas, Cattle egrets, and other birds that share a similar diet and habitat. Drongos benefit from this association and are more successful in their foraging. It is said that they imitate the call of the shikra so as to put mynas to flight and then steal prey. Black drongos are aggressive and fearless birds and will attack much larger species that enter their nesting territory, including crows and even birds of prey. This behavior led to their former name of “king crow”. Black drongos have a wide range of calls but their most common call is a two-note ‘tee-hee’ call.
Black drongos are carnivores (insectivores). They feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, cicadas, termites, wasps, bees, ants, moths, beetles, and dragonflies. They feed on milkweed butterflies that are often avoided by other predators but rarely take larger arthropods such as scorpions and centipedes. They may sometimes prey on small birds, reptiles, fish, or maybe even bats. Black drongos may also visit the flowers of trees such as Erythrina and Bombax for water and nectar and they may occasionally feed on grains.
Black drongos are monogamous and form pairs. They breed mainly in February and March in southern India, and until August in other parts of the country. Males and females sing in the mornings during the breeding season. Courtship can include aerobatic chases and they may lock their wings and beaks together, with the pair sometimes falling to the ground. Displays may be made on the ground. The nest is a cup made with a thin layer of sticks placed in the fork of a branch and is built in a week by both the male and female. Eggs are laid close to the first rains in April. The usual clutch is 3 or rarely 4 eggs. The eggs are pale cream to red with spots and markings and are 26 mm (1.0 in) long and 19 mm (0.75 in) wide. The eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch after 14-15 days. Nestlings are brooded for the first 5 days and their eyes open on the 8th day. Helpers, offspring from the previous brood, may sometimes assist in feeding the fledglings at the nest of their parents. The chicks leave the nest after about 16 to 20 days after hatching but the parents continue to feed and protect them for a month. Young birds may beg for food for longer but are often ignored or chased away by adults. Black drongos become reproductively mature and start to breed in about 2 years. A second clutch may be laid if the first is destroyed.
There are no major threats to this species at present.
According to IUCN Red List, the Black drongo is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. National population sizes have been estimated at around 10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and around 1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in China and around 10,000-100,000 breeding pairs in Taiwan. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...