drongo

drongo

drongo , any of the insect-eating Old World birds of the family Dicruridae. Most species have black plumage with an iridescent purple or green shimmer and long, deeply forked tails. They have long pointed wings and stout, hooked bills ornamented with long bristles about the mouth. Most have ornamental crests or head plumes. Drongos range in body length from 7 to 15 in. (18–38 cm); the tail in some species is as long as 28 in. (71 cm). Solitary, arboreal birds of forests, wooded savannas, and fields, drongos are most numerous in S Asia, but also occur in S Africa and NE Australia. Typical of the family is the king crow, Dicrurus macrocerus, found from India to Java and Taiwan. Drongos are powerful, aggressive birds and will drive off birds much larger than themselves, incidentally providing protection to more docile species that nest in the same trees. Members of some species follow cattle in order to feed on the associated insects. There are about 20 drongo species, classified in two genera, Dicrurus and Chaetorhynchus, of the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Dicruridae.

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Dicruridae

Dicruridae(drongos; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family of small to medium, glossy black birds that have stout, hooked bills and rictal bristles, some being crested. Their tails are medium to long, often having distinctive curled or racquet-shaped feathers. They are aggressive and inhabit forests, flycatching for insects and building open or semi-pendant nests. There are two genera, with 20 species, 19 of them in the genus Dicrurus: (D. hottentottus (spangled drongo) has at least 31 subspecies and is one of the most variable birds.) The monotypic genus Chaetorhynhus papuensis (Papuan mountain drongo) has 12, not 10, tail feathers, and is endemic to New Guinea.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Dicruridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Dicruridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Dicruridae.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Dicruridae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Dicruridae.html

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drongos

drongos See DICRURIDAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "drongos." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "drongos." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-drongos.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "drongos." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-drongos.html

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drongo

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"drongo." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"drongo." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-drongo.html

"drongo." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-drongo.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Loud, proud and 100% punk; LocalHeroes Drongos For Europe.(Features)
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Mail (England); 5/15/2012
Drongos drone on as charging Tiger swings into view.(News)
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Mail (England); 11/17/2011
You are the No1 drongo. G'day!*; *THAT'S OZ-SPEAK FOR WEAKEST LINK.(News)
Newspaper article from: The Mirror (London, England); 3/12/2001

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