Birds with two long tail feathers belong to a group of birds called the racket-tailed drongos. The racket-tailed drongos are medium-sized passerine birds of the drongo family Dicruridae. They are found mainly in Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. They get their name from their unique tail shape, which resembles a racket.
Introduction to Racket-tailed Drongos
There are about 29 recognized species of racket-tailed drongos. They are mostly black or dark grey in color with varying amounts of white markings on their body and wings. The distinguishing feature of these birds is of course the elongated outer tail feathers. These feathers can be as long or even longer than the bird’s entire body length. While in flight, the racket-shaped tail spreads out like a fan.
Racket-tailed drongos occupy a wide range of wooded habitats including forests, woodlands, mangroves, and suburban parks and gardens. They are agile flyers and can hawk insects in mid-air. Their natural diet consists mainly of insects and fruit. Some species are known for their mimicry skills, able to imitate the calls of many other bird species. Racket-tailed drongos often serve as sentinel species, giving alarm calls that alert other birds to predators.
Some of the common racket-tailed drongo species include:
- Greater racket-tailed drongo
- Hair-crested drongo
- Sumatran drongo
- Bornean drongo
- Sri Lanka drongo
- Andaman drongo
- White-bellied drongo
- Black drongo
- Ashy drongo
- Crow-billed drongo
Physical Description
Racket-tailed drongos are medium-sized passerines, ranging from 18-30 cm in body length. Their wingspans range from 20-34 cm. In terms of weight, they average around 30-60 grams. This makes them similar in size to common birds like sparrows, starlings, and thrushes.
As mentioned, these birds are strikingly identifiable by their unique tail shape. The racket-shaped tail consists of the middle pair of tail feathers that are greatly elongated, extending as long as the bird’s body and sometimes even longer. The outer tail feathers are between two to three times the body length. When spread open, the tail looks like a spade or paddle shape, resembling a racket used in sports like badminton. This is how the racket-tailed drongos get their descriptive name.
Another distinctive feature is the bare patch of skin behind their eyes that is edged with small bristles. This bare eye patch varies in color from blue to reddish depending on species. It may help reflect sunlight when the birds are in flight.
In terms of plumage, racket-tailed drongos are mostly black or dark grey on the head, back, wings and tail. The underparts can range from black, grey to white or silvery-white on some species. Depending on species, they may also have varying white markings on the body, tail, wing feathers or throat patch.
Distribution and Habitat
Racket-tailed drongos have a wide distribution across South Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia. Their range spans from India in the west to China in the north down through Southeast Asia and into Indonesia and the Philippines. Within this broad region, different racket-tailed drongo species occupy their own ranges.
These agile flyers occupy a variety of wooded habitats at different elevations. This includes tropical and subtropical forests, open woodlands, mangrove forests along the coast, forest edges, plantations and wooded parks or gardens. Some species can adapt to live in more urban areas.
In particular, the greater racket-tailed drongo has the widest distribution – from the Indian subcontinent across Southeast Asia. The black drongo is also very widespread across much of Asia. The other racket-tailed drongo species tend to have more restricted ranges confined to certain islands or parts of Southeast Asia.
Behavior and Diet
Racket-tailed drongos exhibit great aerial agility with their quick, nimble flight patterns. They can fly rapidly while making sharp turns and swoops as they chase down insect prey. The elongated tail feathers allow superb maneuverability in flight. These clever birds also have other skills up their metaphorical sleeves.
One of the most fascinating behaviors of racket-tailed drongos is their ability to mimic a wide array of bird calls and sounds. Some species can imitate up to 35 species of birds! They are able to perfectly copy calls of other birds, even some mammal sounds. This mimicry serves different purposes, from defending territory to attracting potential mates. It may also aid in communication between drongo family groups.
Racket-tailed drongos are omnivorous, feeding on both insects and fruit. They will hawk insects such as beetles, moths and winged termites plucked from the air or gleaned from foliage. This lean protein comprises over half their diet. They also eat a variety of berries and fruits to balance nutrients.
Unlike some solitary bird species, racket-tailed drongos are quite social. They actively defend breeding territories from intruders while also cooperating to mob potential predators. Outside breeding season, they may gather in loose flocks. Their mimicry skills help them communicate and coordinate within groups.
Reproduction and Nesting
The breeding season for racket-tailed drongos varies across their range, typically starting from March-August during the wettest time of year. Courtship displays involve aerial chasing and elaborate calling with mimicry. They are monogamous and pair off for breeding season.
The nest is a compact cup built from twigs, plant fibers and roots, constructed at a fork in a tree branch around 3-15 meters off the ground. Typical clutch size is 2-4 eggs. The eggs are light pinkish to cream colored with reddish-brown blotches. Both parents incubate the eggs which hatch after 14-16 days.
The chicks fledge around 17-21 days after hatching. Once the first brood leaves the nest, the drongo pair may raise a second or even third brood in a season. The young birds reach sexual maturity within their first year. Lifespan in the wild ranges from 5-7 years.
Species Spotlight
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
With its wide distribution across South and Southeast Asia, the greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is one of the most recognized and common species. Identifying features include its slim jet black body, crimson eyes, and naked blue eye skin patch. Its outer tail feathers are extremely elongated. This agile flyer excels at aerobatic insect chasing.
Black Drongo
The black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is found from India to southern China and Southeast Asia. It has shorter tail streamers than other racket-tailed drongos. As its name indicates, the adult is all black with a glossy sheen and has red eyes. Juveniles have some white barring before molting to adult plumage. This bold species is known for aggressively mobbing predators.
Hair-crested Drongo
Native to parts of India and Sri Lanka, the hair-crested drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) has a very unique crest of forward-curved feathers rising above its bill. Its eyes are red and it has a bright blue eye patch. The long tail feathers help it acrobatically chase insects. It often calls and sings from high perches in the forest canopy.
Key Facts and Summary
In summary, racket-tailed drongos are medium-sized passerine birds identified by their pair of highly elongated tail feathers that resemble a racket shape. There are around 29 species found across South Asia and Southeast Asia that occupy forest and wooded habitats. These intelligent birds are great vocal mimics and aerial insectivores.
Here are some key facts about racket-tailed drongos:
- Family: Dicruridae (drongos)
- Size: 18-30 cm long (body), 20-34 cm wingspan
- Weight: 30-60 grams
- Plumage: Black, dark grey with variable white markings
- Key feature: Long racket-shaped outer tail feathers
- Habitat: Variety of wooded areas
- Diet: Insects and fruit
- Vocalizations: Wide mimicry repertoire
- Breeding: Small cup nests, clutch of 2-4 eggs
- Range: South Asia, Southeast Asia
In conclusion, the birds that have two noticeably elongated tail feathers are the fascinating racket-tailed drongos. Their unique tail shape gives them great aerial agility and their mimicry skills showcase their intelligence. These social and vocal birds flourish across the forests and woodlands of tropical Asia.