Square-tailed Drongo

The Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) is a small, insect-eating passerine bird of the Old World tropics. They were previously classed as the family Dicruridae, but that has been much enlarged to include a number of largely Australasian groups, such as the Australasian fantails, monarchs and paradise flycatchers.

The Square-tailed Drongo is a common resident found throughout much of Africa south of the Sahara. These birds are usually found in forests or dense bush where they lay 2-3 eggs in a cup nest high up in the fork of a tree.

Even though they are small in stature (19 cm), they are known as aggressive and fearless birds. They have been known to attack much larger species if their nest or young are threatened.

The male is mainly a glossy black with slightly duller wings. The female is similar but less glossy. The bill is black and heavy, and the eye is red.

This species is similar to the Fork-tailed Drongo, but is smaller, and the shorter tail lacks the deep fork which gives the latter species its name. Fork-tailed is also typically found in more open habitat.

The Square-tailed Drongo has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It fly-catches or take prey from the ground.

The call is a harsh cherit-cherit.