Photo: Swainson, 1837 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Shining Drongo
Dicrurus atripennis
Shining Drongo (Dicrurus atripennis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Shining Drongo (Dicrurus atripennis) is a member of the Dicruridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 38.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Dicruridae Drongos
- Genus Dicrurus
- Species atripennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 38.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Dicruridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shining Drongo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Shining Drongo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shining Drongo (Dicrurus atripennis) is a member of the Dicruridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone and Liberia to ne DR Congo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 38.9 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shining Drongo?
The Shining Drongo is a small bird that weighs around 38.9 g.
Where does the Shining Drongo live?
The Shining Drongo is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone and Liberia to ne DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Shining Drongo belong to?
The Shining Drongo (Dicrurus atripennis) belongs to the Dicruridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Shining Drongo eat?
The Shining Drongo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Shining Drongo migrate?
The Shining Drongo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shining Drongo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Shining Drongo make?
1 real field recording of the Shining Drongo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shining Drongo's range?
The Shining Drongo has a mapped global range of about 1.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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