Square-tailed Drongo

Afrikaans name: Kleinbyvanger

Square-tailed Drongo

Photo © Steven Herbert

Dicrurus ludwigii

The Square-tailed Drongo is not as familiar to people as its close relative the Fork-tailed Drongo. While Fork-tailed Drongo's are often found in open woodland and gardens the Square-tailed Drongo prefers areas with more trees.

As their name implies these Drongo's lack the deep fork in their tails.

They can be quite aggressive towards other birds or animals that threaten them or their nests. Birds of prey are routinely harassed and chased away.

Photo © Steven Herbert

In South Africa they are pretty much restricted to the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Their diet is almost entirely made up of insects but they do feed on nectar from time to time.

They breed in summer and make their nests where a branch forks into two.

Top

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 211

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 52

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 52

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 178

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 56

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 212

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 296

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 296

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 213

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 353

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 364

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 475

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 469

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 288

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 302

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 49

List of South African Birds