Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
About the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo in Singapore
Last updated 29 May 2026
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The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is an unmistakable, charismatic resident bird found in Singapore's forests and wooded areas.
Identifying features
Check out some identifying features of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo!
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The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo features entirely glossy, midnight-black plumage and a prominent, backwards-curving crest of feathers on its forehead. Its most famous feature is the two incredibly long, thin "wires" extending from its tail, which end in twisted, paddle-like feather "rackets."
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Habitat and ecology
They are aggressive insect hunters that often join "mixed-species flocks." They will follow monkeys or larger birds moving through the forest, waiting to expertly catch any fleeing insects that are disturbed by the larger animals' movement.
They are master vocal mimics and often perfectly imitate the alarm calls of smaller birds or the screech of a Long-tailed Macaque. This panics the other animals into dropping their caught food, which the drongo then swoops in to steal!
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Learn more about the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo!
Curious about the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
