Over the last few weeks I have had a number of Spangled Drongos
(Dicrurus bracteatus) in and around my yard. These birds are so noisy that you certainly can't miss them but I found it difficult to get good photos of them. The fish-tail and the red eye are distinctive and I certainly could get plenty of photos of them in silhouette against the light but I wanted to show the beautiful sheen on their wings and the spangles (blue-green iridescent spots) down their front. I would slowly and quietly move towards a tree where I had just seen one fly then hear the harsh cackling sound of several sitting somewhere behind me. That harsh cackle sounds to me like a "birdy" laugh - at my expense I am sure! I am always listening for bird song around my house and when I hear a new song/sound I hurry outside to identify it. Spangled Drongos are great mimics and I have been fooled a number of times recently. The only give-away is that - even though they seem able to pitch their voices wherever they want them up and down the scale- they always have the same vocal quality somewhere in their calls. Yesterday I heard a new call and realized they were copying the alarm call of the Spur-winged Plovers (or Masked Lapwings!). At least they haven't - Yet! - been copying the screech of the cockatoos!
This last photo shows some of the spangles down the front and also the 'crest' of feathers on the side of the head which they seem able to raise whenever they wish.
I have been thinking of having a post on Drongos too:)Sometime soon I hope..they are indeed noisy birds..you've still captured them very well.Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteShantana
the remind me of our grackles, except the grackles have piercing yellow eyes. these are great!
ReplyDeleteThose eyes, especially in #3, are incredible. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteI admire how well you captured the bird's eye in each of these photos.
ReplyDeleteFantastic to see and read about Mick... a great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cracking bird.
ReplyDeleteGreat serie of photos!
ReplyDeleteCool looking birds, I love the eyes. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to crows while sitting on my front porch yesterday - talk about noisy. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is quite an attractive bird. You got some great shots and I like the tree needles and the blue sky made an interesting background.
Thanks for coming by today.
A very interesting bird, it looks similar to our grackles which also have that iridescent sheen to their feathers. Grackles are quite noisy as well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a striking bird! I love the red eyes!
ReplyDeleteThese are great shots of the Spangled Drongos Mick! I think you have done well catching their iridescence and the red eye.
ReplyDeleteawesome captures....i love those red eyes!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture series you run. Wishing you a good day :) Hanne Bent / hbt.finus.dk
ReplyDeleteI think you captured the spngles Mick, especially in that second shot. What a great name by the way - just rolls off the tongue. As great mimics they may be related to orioles but I dont know because we dont get any drongos here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm under no illusions that the birds around my accommodation were really wild - but it does make them easier to photograph!
Stewart M
Wonderful shots of bird of great clarity.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird! Well done, Mick.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images of the red-eyed bird, Mick! I can imagine you don't want them imitating the screeching of parrots, but may be you can teach them to laugh like human?
ReplyDeleteIv'e never seen or heard of these birds before, Mick! That red eye is incredible and the spangles on their neck and head is so bright & shiny. Great captures!!
ReplyDelete(I've posted the other 3 birds from my Wynnum waterfront visit)
such an interesting bird. Would love to see it in person. And your whots are great. :) Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird and those eyes!! Happy WBW!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird with piercing red eyes! Nice captures!
ReplyDeleteMimics can play some real tricks. I have a Northern Mockingbird at work that does a great Killdeer. The give away is the shorebird calling from the top of a tree :)
ReplyDeleteNice pictures and you did get a good sheen and spangles.
cheers.
Very interesting bird. Love the red eyes. Great captures!!
ReplyDeleteWe only have the black drongos here. The spangled ones are lovely...and I loved your photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds, Mick. It is so difficult to capture refracted and reflected colors of black birds. Photos just do not do them justice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool bird! Love those shots of them in the interesting vegetation.
ReplyDeleteI think your shots are great. Like the narrative also. I was not familiar with these birds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my bird post. Sorry to be a bit behind on my blog hopping. I do so appreciate your nice comment
What funny birds! Wonderful pictures (I love to see birds' eyes -- and these are incredible.)
ReplyDelete