Crested Drongo
Dicrurus forficatus
The Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus) is a rare drongo found in 2 countries, weighing about 47 g. The crested drongo is a passerine bird in the family Dicruridae.
About the Crested Drongo
The crested drongo is a passerine bird in the family Dicruridae. It is black with a bluish-green sheen, a distinctive crest on the forehead and a forked tail. There are two subspecies; D. f. forficatus is endemic to Madagascar and D. f. potior, which is larger, is found on the Comoro Islands. Its habitat is lowland forests, both dry and humid, and open savannah country. It is a common bird and the IUCN has listed it as "least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult male and female are almost entirely black, with a blue-green sheen. The distinctive crest consists of elongated feathers on the forehead. The forked tail is also distinctive of the adult birds. D. f. potior is larger and has broader tail feathers.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Crested Drongo?
- The adult male and female are almost entirely black, with a blue-green sheen. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Crested Drongo?
- The Crested Drongo is a small sized bird weighing about 47 g.
- Where can you see a Crested Drongo?
- The Crested Drongo occurs in 2 countries, including Madagascar and the Comoros.
- What birds look similar to a Crested Drongo?
- The Crested Drongo is most easily confused with the Andaman Drongo, the Velvet-mantled Drongo and the Balicassiao.
- Is the Crested Drongo endangered?
- The Crested Drongo is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Crested Drongo for real
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