Image by Paul Barnard Fotografie
Alternative Names:
English (Rob 6): Forktailed Drongo
English (Rob 7): Fork-tailed Drongo
English: African Drongo
German: Trauerdrongo
French: Drongo brillant
Indigenous: iNtengu(Z),Intengu(X),Ntene(K),Theko(NS),Nhengu(Sh),Nhengure(Sh),Matengu(Ts),Ntengu(Ts),Kuamosi(Tw)
Scientific Explained:
adsimilis: Latin, like or similar (also written assimilis).
dicrurus: Greek dikrous, forked or bifurcate.
Measurements: Length male 25 cm, female 22,5-24 cm; wing (58 male) 123-134-143, (32 female) 120-130,7-139; tail (34 male) 104-116,4-126, (18 female) 102-114,1-124; tarsus (38) 21-24; culmen (38) 19-23. Weight (4 male) 38,1-40-42,4 g, (1 female) 23,7 g, (14 unsexed) 37,7-50,1-58 g.
Bare Parts: Iris deep red; bill, legs and feet black.
Identification: Size medium; black with purplish sheen all over; tail longish, deeply notched or forked (less so in female); in moult, tail often has double fork until fully grown out; in flight wings pale, translucent, almost whitish; albinos and partial albinos rarely occur. Similar to Black Flycatcher but somewhat larger; bill heavier, deeper at base, hooked at tip; forehead tends to slope back from bill (forehead higher and more rounded in Black Flycatcher); tail more deeply forked (but sometimes fairly deeply notched in Black Flycatcher); perches with legs flexed, belly on branch (Black Flycatcher often perches high on legs); eye red (visible in good light only; brown in Black Flycatcher). Larger than Squaretailed Drongo, with more deeply forked tail; inhabits open woodland (Squaretailed Drongo inhabits forest). Immature: Below grey, densely speckled pale grey.
Voice: Song loud jumble of strident twanging, creaking and rasping sounds like unoiled wooden wagonwheels; imitates other birdcalls; callnote single trumpetlike twank or twillang; vocal on moonlit nights; gentle tweep flight call.
Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; almost throughout s Africa, except w Karoo and Namaqualand.
Status: Common resident; may have some short-distance local movements.
Habitat: Woodland, savanna, riverine Acacia, exotic plantations, farmyards, gardens, parks, open grassveld with perches (e.g. fences, isolated trees), forest edge; avoids forest interior.
Habits: Usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in groups of up to 20 birds; may join bird parties. Perches on conspicuous branch, post or large herbivorous mammal; sallies out to catch prey in flight or on ground, often returning to same perch; attracted to grassfires. Flight buoyant, undulating and agile. Mobs larger raptors, owls, hornbills, crows, small mammals; aggressive at nest, even attacking man; may rob food from other birds; kills and carries small birds in feet or bill; may feed by holding prey with foot and tearing with hooked bill. Bathes by plunge-diving from air or perch; drinks by sucking and raising head to swallow.
Food: Insects (especially bees, when available), small birds (white-eyes, mannikins, canaries), fish (caught by plunging like kingfisher), nectar.
Breeding: Season: October to January in KwaZulu-Natal, August to January (mainly September-November) in Zimbabwe; 2-3 broods/season; only known host of African Cuckoo. Nest: Strongly woven, thin-walled, often transparent, shallow saucer of rootlets, tendrils and twigs, neatly bound with spider web; usually suspended hammocklike in horizontal fork of tree, well away from main trunk; less often more substantial bowl of plant material or sheep’s wool placed on top of horizontal branch; 2-12 m above ground. Clutch: (172) 2-2,8-4 eggs (usually 3). Eggs: Highly variable; white, cream or pink, plain or spotted with dark pink, reddish brown or blackish; measure (336) 24,3 x 18,2 (21,2-28,3 x 16,7-20,1). Incubation: 16-17 days. Nestling: 17-18 days.
Question by : STUNG BY BEE IN SAUDI ARABIA?
My husband was stung by a yemeni honeybee on his leg, he had a reaction the site of the bite spread about seven inches in width, area raised and red, he went to Dr. gave his some cream, amazed the bee is so tiny!! is there any other home remedies to help the swelling?
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). Ice or cold packs can be put over the swelling. An Ace bandage or elastic wrap could be wrapped around the leg, which will help with swelling and support; and elevating the leg to a level higher than the level of the heart (if possible) will definitely help with the swelling. And if you mix some baking soda with water into a paste and put it right over the sting area, it will do a lot to help pain, itching and discomfort.
Helen M
August 20, 2012 at 11:00 pm