Spangled Drongo
Photo · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Spangled Drongo

Dicrurus bracteatusGould, 1843

Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Commonness
Very common
Best seen
Year-round

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The spangled drongo is a bird of the family Dicruridae. It is the only drongo to be found in Australia, where it can be recognised by its black, iridescent plumage and its characteristic forked tail. It feeds on insects and small vertebrates. It has complex and varied calls and is a mimic of the sounds it hears. It arrives in Queensland in late spring and breeds high in an isolated tree, producing three to five young each year.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

02 · Where

Where to find it

Breeding range
Moluccas, New Guinea region, north and east Australia, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.

03 · When

When to look

Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

The BirdUp app

Log your next Spangled Drongo in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.