drongo (drŏngˈgō) [key], 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, D