Family Drongos (Dicruridae)
Least Concern
Shining Drongo (Dicrurus atripennis)
Taxonomy
French: Drongo de forêt German: Glanzdrongo Spanish: Drongo selvático
Taxonomy:
Dicrurus atripennis
Swainson
, 1837,Sierra Leone
.Distribution:
Sierra Leone, SE Guinea, Liberia, S Ivory Coast and S Ghana E in forest to NE DRCongo, S to S Gabon and C Congo.
Descriptive notes
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... read more
Voice
Lively and noisy. Territorial pair performs duets combining loud sharp notes, melodious whistles... read more
Habitat
Restricted to primary forest and oldest secondary forest, from sea-level to lower hills; to at... read more
Food and feeding
Mainly large insects (50–60 mm). In NE Gabon, observed to feed on Orthoptera, beetles (Coleoptera), moths (Lepidoptera), mantises (... read more
Breeding
In Liberia more frequently reported Aug–Jan and displays and territorial behaviour Sept–Nov, but birds with enlarged gonads... read more
Movements
Resident.
Status and conservation
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... read more
DNA studies#R indicate that closest relative is D. ludwigii. Monotypic.