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Fork-tailed Drongo
Drongos · Resident

Fork-tailed Drongo

Common Drongo, African Drongo · Dicrurus adsimilis

Least Concern23–26 cm · 40–50 g

By the Birdfact teamChecked byNathan Cope

Against the backdrop of Africa's diverse landscapes, this bold and resourceful bird has earned a reputation as nature's master trickster, using clever deception to steal food from other animals.
On this page11 sections
  1. How to recognise it
  2. Its size
  3. Its song and calls
  4. When and where to see it
  5. What it eats
  6. Nesting and breeding
  7. Behaviour
  8. Conservation
  9. More photos
  10. Quick facts
  11. Sources

How to recognise it

The Fork-tailed Drongo is a sleek, all-black bird with a distinctive, deeply forked tail. Its plumage has a glossy, iridescent sheen that can appear blue or green in certain lights. The eyes are bright red, contrasting sharply with the black feathers.

Both males and females look alike, with no significant seasonal changes in plumage. Juveniles are similar but duller, with brownish underparts and a less pronounced tail fork.

Its size

Adults
Length
23–26 cm
Wingspan
35–41 cm
Weight
40–50 g

Its song and calls

Fork-tailed Drongos are excellent vocal mimics with a wide repertoire of calls. Their natural voice includes harsh, scolding notes and melodious whistles.

They often imitate the alarm calls of other birds, which they use to scare away competitors from food sources. The typical call is a sharp 'kek-kek' or 'skeer-skeer'.

When and where to see it

The Fork-tailed Drongo is not recorded regularly in the UK, Ireland, the United States or Canada.

Worldwide: recorded regularly in 31 countries

Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.

Africa (31)

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

Download citations (7)

Tips for seeing it

  • Look for their distinctive forked tail in flight
  • Listen for their varied calls, including mimicry of other birds
  • Watch for their habit of perching prominently on exposed branches
  • Observe their aggressive behaviour towards larger birds

What it eats

Fork-tailed Drongos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects. They catch prey on the wing or by sallying from a perch. 

These birds are also known to follow larger animals, catching insects disturbed by their movement.

Nesting and breeding

Fork-tailed Drongos form monogamous pairs and breed during the wet season, which varies across their range. They engage in aerial displays and vocalisations during courtship.

The nest is a shallow, cup-shaped structure made of twigs and spider webs, typically placed in the fork of a tree branch. Females lay 2-4 eggs, which are pale cream or pinkish with reddish-brown spots.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 16-17 days. The chicks fledge after approximately 16-20 days but remain dependent on the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

Behaviour

Fork-tailed Drongos are known for their aggressive behaviour and fearless nature. They often mob larger birds and even mammals to protect their territory.

These birds are also skilled aerial acrobats, catching insects on the wing with impressive agility.

Conservation

The Fork-tailed Drongo is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large range and stable population. However, like many birds, it faces threats from habitat loss in some areas.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving its woodland and savannah habitats.

More photos

4 photos

Quick facts

Length
23–26 cm
Wingspan
35–41 cm
Weight
40–50 g
Lifespan
6–12 years
Family
Drongos
Migration
Resident
Global status (IUCN)
Least Concern
World population
Not quantified, but considered large
Population trend
Stable
Also called
Common Drongo, African Drongo
Scientific name
Dicrurus adsimilis

Sources

4
  1. 1Oldest recorded trapped bird was 7 years, so thought to live longer
  2. 2BirdLife International. 2024. Dicrurus adsimilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T103710902A263855757. Source (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3BirdLife International. 2024. Dicrurus adsimilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T103710902A263855757. Source (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Hall and Moreau 1970, Roberts 1993, Zimmerman et al. 1996, Borrow and Demey 2001, Stevenson and Fanshawe 2002
Spotted a mistake?Tell usHow we write and checkBy the Birdfact team · Updated

Checked by

Nathan Cope, founder and editor

Nathan founded Birdfact and leads its writers and contributors in the UK, the US and Canada. He has watched and studied birds for more than ten years, and checks every article and species guide before it’s published.

How we write and checkAbout Nathan