Tuesday 12 April 2011

Drongo by name not by nature

It is a it rough when you are called a "drongo," as in Australia this is slang for someone who is a bit of a fool, so it is unfortunate for the Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus which just happens to be the only species of avian Drongos in Australia. There are many other species of Drongos in the "Old World" tropics and the name originates from the native Madagascan language. The Spangled Drongo is migratory in the southern part of its range down the east coast arriving around October and departing for northern Australia and New Guinea through Autumn. We usually see quite a few through summer but this is the first this season. Unfortunately I could only get a photo against the light so the iridescence of the feathers is not showing, which with their unusual fishtail and their aerial feats as the hunt insects on the wing, make them very striking birds.

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