Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis Scientific name definitions

21·5–24 cm; 35–47 g. The glossiest drongo in Africa. Male has head and body entirely black with strong characteristic shining steel-green to sometimes purplish-blue reflections, most pronounced on upperparts, throat and breast; forehead and lores velvety black, stiff feathers covering base of upper mandible; flight-feathers blackish-brown with shining outer edges of secondaries, wing-coverts and tertials black with some bluish gloss; tail slightly forked (length 89–111 mm, fork 5–15 mm); iris dark red (described as crimson in Gabon); bill and legs black. Differs from D. ludwigii in larger size, glossier plumage, larger tail with deeper fork. Female is similar to male but on average slightly smaller, with less gloss on throat and belly. Juvenile is sooty black, with some greenish gloss on wings and tail only.

Sierra Leone, SE Guinea, Liberia, S Ivory Coast and S Ghana E in forest to NE DRCongo, S to S Gabon and C Congo.

Restricted to primary forest and oldest secondary forest, from sea-level to lower hills; to at least 1000 m in Liberia. The most typical forest drongo, penetrating deeper into shady mature woodland stands. Occupies lower canopy and dense shrubs, usually between 5 m and 25 m, whereas D. ludwigii occupies higher canopy.

Resident.

Mainly large insects (50–60 mm). In NE Gabon, observed to feed on Orthoptera, beetles (Coleoptera), moths (Lepidoptera), mantises (Mantidae), cicadas (Cicadidae), as well as flying termites (Isoptera). Stomach contents beetles, dragonflies (Odonata), cicadas, Orthoptera, spiders (Araneae) and millipedes (Diplopoda) in DRCongo; beetles, ants (Formicidae) and grasshoppers (Acrididae) in Liberia. Catches aerial prey (e.g. Lepidoptera) by sallying out from horizontal perch or a liana loop, usually below 20 m; other items taken by gleaning or hover-gleaning. Big items held with the claws and cut into pieces with bill. Follows swarms of carnivorous ants such as makokou (Dorylus wilverthi) for hours, sallying rapidly for disturbed insects in forest middle levels (5–20 m high) or plunging after falling prey; competes with and sometimes aggressive towards other large ant-followers, such as bulbuls (Pycnonotidae), hornbills (Bucerotidae) and small raptors. Lives in pairs and in family groups of up to five individuals, often associated with other species such as greenbuls (Phyllastrephus) and paradise-flycatchers (Terpsiphone). Conspicuous member of mixed-species foraging parties, following "searchers" and "beaters" from above foliage, and benefiting from insects disturbed by them. Indicates, together with Bates's Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone batesi), approaching predators, by using powerful alarm calls and plunging into vegetation, prompting similar escape reactions from other birds.

In Liberia more frequently reported Aug–Jan and displays and territorial behaviour Sept–Nov, but birds with enlarged gonads also in Mar and Jun; laying Aug–Dec in Liberia, May–Nov in Nigeria, Jan–Mar in Gabon, Aug–Sept in PRCongo; in DRCongo, May–Sept in N Ituri and Feb in Kivu. Lives as territorial pair; aggressive, chases other drongos and other bird species, including raptors and Tockus hornbills, and seen to harass African Harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus) or even beating Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus). Nest a small shallow cup built from rootlets and lichens between twigs of horizontal forked branch, held with cobwebs and decorated with lichens, so simple and thin that contents visible through the structure; located 3–12 m above ground. Clutch 2 eggs (three clutches in Kivu, Gabon and Sierra Leone), and two chicks reported from nest in S Cameroon; egg creamy brown with irregular brown markings, average of two eggs 24·6 x 17·3 mm; incubation possibly by both parents, both feed chicks, no information on duration of incubation and nestling periods.

Not globally threatened. Widespread in African equatorial forests. Locally frequent in Liberia, Sierra Leone and S Ghana, very localized in S Ivory Coast; rare or uncommon in narrow coastal band in S Togo, S Benin and Nigeria. Locally common in S Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, N & C PRCongo, extreme S Central African Republic, and N, C & E DRCongo. The commonest drongo in Gabon. Densities of 12–15 pairs/100 ha in Gabon primary forests, down to 6–8/100 ha in secondary stands; locally 10–20 pairs/100 ha in Liberia. Believed not to have suffered any significant population decline, although threats of large-scale deforestation exist, especially in Congo Basin.