CreatureData

Black drongo vs Square-tailed drongo

The black drongo is heavier: 48.3 g against 29.4 g for the square-tailed drongo, about 64% more.

Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
Black drongo LCLeast Concern
Photo: Tisha Mukherjee · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Square-tailed drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii)
Square-tailed drongo LCLeast Concern
Photo: Alan Manson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a black drongo and a square-tailed drongo?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The black drongo is heavier: 48.3 g against 29.4 g for the square-tailed drongo, about 64% more.
  • Both belong to the genus Dicrurus, so they are close relatives.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Side by side

Black drongoSquare-tailed drongo
Scientific nameDicrurus macrocercusDicrurus ludwigii
FamilyDicruridaeDicruridae
OrderPasseriformesPasseriformes
Weight46 g – 51 g29.4 g – 35.5 g
Length28 cmNot recorded
LifespanNot recordedNot recorded
Main foodarthropodsNot recorded
Habitatshrublandforest
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recordedNot recordedNot recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: Black drongoFull record: Square-tailed drongoCompare other animals