Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Square-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus ludwigii
Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) is a member of the Dicruridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 29.4 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 ludwigii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Dicruridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Square-tailed Drongo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Square-tailed Drongo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) belongs to the Dicruridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, s Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.2 cm and a tail of around 8.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Square-tailed Drongo?
The Square-tailed Drongo is a small bird that weighs around 29.4 g.
Where does the Square-tailed Drongo live?
The Square-tailed Drongo is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, s Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Square-tailed Drongo belong to?
The Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) belongs to the Dicruridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Square-tailed Drongo eat?
The Square-tailed Drongo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Square-tailed Drongo migrate?
The Square-tailed Drongo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Square-tailed 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 Square-tailed Drongo make?
1 real field recording of the Square-tailed 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 Square-tailed Drongo's range?
The Square-tailed Drongo has a mapped global range of about 4.6 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.
Explore more birds
More in Dicruridae
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.