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Spangled DrongoAlternate name(s): "Drongo", "Fishtail", "Drongo-shrike"; Misnomer: "King-crow"  Aboriginal name(s): "bajinjilajila" [ngadjon]Size: 28-32 cm Weight: 70-105 g |
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Similar |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "bracteatus"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2013]
Frontal view of a Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]
Close-up near-frontal view of a Spangled Drongo with its eyebrows
raised into something resembling a double crest
(photo courtesy of
A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2013]
Close-up near-frontal view of a Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2013]
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2013]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[D'Aguilar NP, near Mount Mee, QLD, December 2019]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Spangled Drongo, now with a
view of its light-grey down
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[D'Aguilar NP, near Mount Mee, QLD, December 2019]
Dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2013]
Dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[D'Aguilar NP, near Mount Mee, QLD, December 2019]
Close-up ventral view of a Spangled Drongo in flight (photo courtesy
of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of two Spangled Drongos, with an adult on the left and
a juvenile on the right (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]
Frontal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Frontal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, January 2011]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of
L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, January 2011]
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy
of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, January 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo seen far South (photo courtesy
of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2008]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]
Race "baileyi"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2018]
Dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2013]
Dorsal view of two Spangled Drongos
[Botanic Gardens, Darwin, NT, August 2014]
Direct comparison of the size of a Spangled Drongo with a
Bar-shouldered Dove
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of an immature Spangled Drongo; note the brown
irises (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2019]
Lateral view of an immature Spangled Drongo
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2019]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo; note the dark
irises, white throat spots and the white tips of the undertail
coverts (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo devouring a
large cicada (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo devouring a
large cicada - gone down the chute...
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo; this bird was heard
begging for food
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, May 2018]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a fledgling Spangled Drongo; note the
pale gape, downy underparts and the very short tail
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, November 2021]
Race "atrabectus"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo going for a drink
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, January 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo going for a drink
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, August 2010]
Spangled Drongo waiting to pick off insects disturbed by foraging
Grey-crowned Babblers
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, July 2011]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Dorsal view of an immature Spangled Drongo; note the brown-tinged
flight juvenile feathers (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Iron Range NP, QLD, November 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy
of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]
Close-up dorsal view of a juvenile Spangled Drongo (photo courtesy
of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Oct - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 14 - 16 days | Fledging age: 17 - 19 days |
The breeding season of Spangled Drongos depends on geographic latitude and can, in principle, extend from August to May. The time range listed in the table above is the core breeding season.
| Nest building: Female & male | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Suspended basket | Material: Vine tendrils | Height above ground: 2.5 - 25 m |
The nests shown below are deeper hanging basket than shown in some field guides, being more similar to those of some species of honeyeaters, rather than cuckoo-shrikes.
Note also that the nests shown here are quite low (in one case clearly less than 10 m, in the other [Acacia Hills, NT] measured at 2.6 m off the ground, in a tall tree where it could have been built much higher).
On day 17 the first Spangled Drongo chick had left the nest;
the next day the two remaining rascals were also gone
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, December 2019]
3 chicks in a Spangled Drongo nest - aged 15 days
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, December 2019]
3 chicks in a Spangled Drongo nest - aged 12 days
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, December 2019]
3 chicks in a Spangled Drongo nest - aged 8 days
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, December 2019]
3 chicks in a Spangled Drongo nest - aged 7 days
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, December 2019]
3 Spangled Drongo hatchlings in their nest
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, November 2019]
We have collected detailed information on how birds, in this particular case Little Friarbirds, keep their nests clean HERE. Note that other species, such as e.g. raptors and doves/pigeons do NOT keep their nests that clean.
Spangled Drongo on its deep hanging basket nest
(photo courtesy of E.
Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2016]
Spangled Drongo on its deep hanging basket nest, now seen
from behind (photo courtesy of E.
Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2016]
Spangled Drongo sitting its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Spangled Drongo sitting its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Spangled Drongo that came down in a storm with the palm frond it
had been built on
(photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, December 2020]
Fallen Spangled Drongo nest with three of the eggs put back inside
(photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, December 2020]
Fallen Spangled Drongo nest with its full complement of 4 eggs
put back inside; although placed back near the original nest site,
it was subsequenly rejected by the birds (photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, December 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 30 x 20 mm | Colour: Creamy, with light- to mid-brown speckles | Shape: Elliptical |
Close-up view of a Spangled Drongo egg
(photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, December 2020]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial/communal | Mobility: Sedentary/migratory | Elementary unit: Mob |
Dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo in an excited state, in this case
demanding food - note the double "crest" and the fanned tail while
calling (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2014]
This Spangled Drongo was observed hustling a Willie Wagtail (photo courtesy
of C. Booker)
[Thornlands, Redlands, QLD, June 2013]
Spangled Drongo waiting to pick off insects disturbed by foraging
Grey-crowned Babblers
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, July 2011]
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo before going into the bathtub...
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, October 2016]
... and here one seen after taking a bath, drying its feathers
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, February 2017]
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Food, Diet |
Spangled Drongos usually hunt insect in flight, but will take spiders and beetles from tree bark and small lizards as well. They have also been found by us taking nectar from a variety of flowers.
Spangled Drongo with its prey, a locust
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, December 2019]
Spangled Drongo with a gecko it has just caught; click here to see how a Spangled
Drongo turns its prey before swallowing
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Spangled Drongo with its prey
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[D'Aguilar NP, near Brisbane QLD, January 2023]
Frontal view of a Spangled Drongo feeding on the nectar of a
Callistemon (bottlebrush)
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2013]
Frontal view of a Spangled Drongo feeding on the nectar of a
grevillea
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2013]
Lateral view of a Spangled Drongo taking the nectar of a
Callistemon (bottlebrush)
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, September 2022]
Frontal view of a Spangled Drongo scavenging a piece of meat
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2012]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement 
are welcome.
| spdrong_art_20140114.m4a |
bracteatus (SE QLD) |
Contact calls | © ART | |
| spdrong_nc_20150425.m4a |
bracteatus (NE NSW) |
Contact calls(?) | © NC | |
| spdrong_art_20131115.m4a |
bracteatus (SE QLD) |
Alarm call(?) | © ART | |
| spdrong_art_20140421.m4a |
bracteatus (SE QLD) |
Idle chatter (early morning) | © ART | |
| spdrong_me_20200412.m4a |
bracteatus (SE QLD) |
Various | © ME | |
| spdrong_me_20200927.m4a |
atrabectus (N QLD) |
Contact call(?) (+ Chowchilla) |
© ME | |
| spdrong_pb_20181105.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Contact calls(?) Q&A | © PB | |
| spdrong_pb_20221029.mp3 | (Darwin, NT) | Alarm (Rufous Owl) | © PB | |
| spdrong_pb_20200415.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Alarmed mob (Rufous Owl) | © PB | |
| intract_pb_20180503.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Alarmed by Black Butcherbird (+ Magpie-lark) | © PB | |
| spdrong_20140820_2.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Upset/annoyed? | © MD | |
| spdrong_20140820.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Upset/annoyed? | © MD | |
| spdrong_pb_20180726_2.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | (Hunting) | © PB | |
| spdrong_pb_20200411.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various (clan) | © PB | |
| spdrong_pb_20190220.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Various | © PB | |
| spdrong_20140820_5.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various | © MD | |
| spdrong_20140820_4.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various | © MD | |
| spdrong_pb_20201205.m4a | (Top End, NT) | ? | © PB | |
| spdrong_pb_20180110.m4a |
baileyi (Darwin, NT) |
Feeding calls? | © PB |
More Spangled Drongo sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.