Black Drongo

The Black Drongo, often called the "king crow" for its habit of aggressively chasing off much larger birds, is one of the most conspicuous perching birds of South Asian farmland. It is entirely glossy black with a blue-green sheen, a stout black bill, and deep red eyes, and is instantly recognizable by its long, deeply forked "fish-tail" tail.

Often seen perched on wires, fences, or the backs of grazing cattle, Black Drongos are bold, confident birds that sally out from a perch to snatch flying insects in mid-air before returning to the same or a nearby perch — a behavior known as hawking or sallying.

Key field marks

• All-black glossy plumage with a bluish-green sheen
• Deeply forked, scissor-like tail, often held slightly upturned at the tips
• Red eyes and a stout, slightly hooked black bill
• Upright posture on open perches; bold, aggressive behavior toward larger birds

Similar species

The Ashy Drongo is grey rather than black. The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo is larger, has a distinctive forehead crest, and carries long wire-like tail streamers ending in rackets. Crows are much larger and lack the deeply forked tail.

Black Drongos are widespread across the Indian subcontinent, extending into parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. They favor open country: farmland, grasslands, scrub, roadside wires, and the edges of wetlands and villages, generally avoiding dense forest.

Most populations are resident, though northern populations show some local seasonal movement.

Voice

Calls are varied and harsh, including sharp metallic notes, whistles, and chattering; the species is also a skilled mimic of other birds' calls.

Feeding

Black Drongos hunt mainly by sallying from an exposed perch to catch flying insects in the air, and they frequently follow grazing cattle or tractors to snap up insects disturbed from the grass.

Nesting and breeding

The nest is a shallow cup of twigs and fibers built in the fork of a tree, often quite high. Both sexes are notoriously aggressive in defense of the nest, diving at and driving off crows, kites, and even much larger raptors that stray too close.