Birds › African savanna › Fork-tailed Drongo

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

It copies the alarm calls of meerkats and other birds to scare them off their food, then steals it.

Where to see it for real: Sits on bare branches and catches insects flushed by grazing animals or fires.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the African savanna habitat (Southern and East Africa, at sunset).

Fork-tailed Drongo facts

Family

Drongos

Length

9.8 in (25 cm)

Weight

1.6 oz (45 g)

Diet

Insects caught in the air, plus food stolen from other animals.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, in savanna and open woodland.

Nest

A small, shallow cup slung in a horizontal fork of a branch.

Song

Harsh metallic calls and clever copies of other animals.

Active

by day and at dusk

Status

Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Fork-tailed Drongo sounds like

More: bird songs and calls.

More birds of the African savanna

Lilac-breasted RollerAfrican savannaSuperb StarlingAfrican savannaLittle Bee-eaterAfrican savannaSouthern Yellow-billed HornbillAfrican savannaSouthern Masked WeaverAfrican savannaHelmeted GuineafowlAfrican savanna