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Square-tailed Drongo


Square-tailed Drongo
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-03 14:06
Viewed: 5090
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Square-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii, is a drongo. The drongos are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics. They were previously classed as the family Dicruridae, but that has been much enlarged to include a number of largely Australasian groups, such as the Australasian fantails, monarchs and paradise flycatchers.

The Square-tailed Drongo is a common resident breeder in much of Africa south of the Sahara. These insect-eating birds are usually found in forests or dense bush. Two to three eggs are laid in a cup nest in a fork high in a tree.

These are aggressive and fearless birds, given their small size, at 19 cm, and will attack much larger species if their nest or young are threatened.

The male is mainly glossy black, although the wings are duller. The female is similar but less glossy. The bill is black and heavy, and the eye is red.

This species is similar to the Fork-tailed Drongo, but is smaller, and the shorter tail lacks the deep fork which gives the latter species its name. Fork-tailed is also typically found in more open habitat.

The Square-tailed Drongo has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It flycatches or take prey from the ground.

The call is a harsh cherit-cherit.

Source: Wikipedia
nglen, jaycee, CeltickRanger, subbu68 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Peter
Nice shot of Square-tailed Drongo.
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-05-03 15:25]

Hi Peter . Good shot of the Drongo. Have never seen one. Nice composton. and POV. with good detail and colour. well done.TFS.

Nick

Belissima foto ficou muito bem composta e nitida um trabalho exelente meus parabéns.
NIlson

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-05-04 10:36]

Hi Peter,

Wonderful shot of the Drongo and a beautiful picture. The clarity of the black bird is wonderful and I love his eye. Fantastic colors and comp.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-05-04 15:55]

Hello Peter,
Fine capture of a Square-tailed Drongo with excellent lighting showing the glossiness of the black feathers and pleasing compo with a good neutral BG. I like the diagonal composition of the branch that the drongo is perched on.
TFS and have a nice weekend,
Ivan

Hi Peter,
I like compo!
TFS,
Serge

Hello Peter

Beautiful photo of this Square-tailed Drongo
with its beautiful pose and eye-contact, fine POV
and framing, excellent focus, sharpness, details, TFS

Asbed

Dear Peter,
Excellent shot here.. Like the composition and lovely presentation.. Superb image quality and nice colors too.. Very well done.. and thanks for attaching an interesting note with it..
Good morning and best wishes from India..
Warm regards,
Indrasish..

I have tried a lot to get a decent shot of a drongo in my native place. Found it pretty difficult to focus due to the black gloss perhaps. you got it properly focussed and background blurred. Lighting is ideal too.

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