Bird Guide

Bronzed Drongo vs Spangled Drongo

Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)

Bronzed Drongo

Dicrurus aeneus

Small26 gForest

This drongo is somewhat smaller than the black drongo and has more metallic gloss with a spangled appearance on the head, neck and breast. The lores are velvety and the ear coverts are duller. The tail is slender and well forked with the outer tail feathers flaring outward slightly. Immatures have their axillaries tipped in white. The young bird is duller and brownish with less spangling. The nominate race is found in India and extending until the northern part of the Malay Peninsula.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Scott Lin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ben Costamagna · CC BY 4.0
Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

Spangled Drongo

Dicrurus bracteatus

Medium86 gForest

Its basically black plumage is iridescent with blue and purple highlights. Its eyes are crimson. 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. Young drongos lack the highlights and spots and their eyes are dark brown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Damien O'Donnell · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Bronzed Drongo and Spangled Drongo.