About the Author

James Tyrrell

Alumni

James had hardly touched a camera when he came to Londolozi, but his writing skills that complemented his Honours degree in Zoology meant that he was quickly snapped up by the Londolozi blog team. An environment rich in photographers helped him develop the ...

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14 Comments

on Danger for the Drongos

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

It is definetely summer when you hear the cuckoos. We had the Red Chested cuckoo for a few weeks now and I haveheard the Klaas’s cuckoo. Lovely.

Jennifer Ridgewell
Senior Digital Ranger

James, I once heard the Fork-Tailed Drongo referred to by a respected Guide, as the “policemen of the bush”, so hoping this Drongo keeps alert for marauding Cuckoos and await the outcome!

Kara Taylor
Master Tracker

Interesting that even the Cuckoo chick is in on the parasitising scheme once is grows and throws out the Drongo eggs!

Joan Schmiidt
Master Tracker

James, I loved the photos, I saved the eggs🤗

Christa Blessing
Master Tracker

The cuckoos do the same thing here in Europe. Normally they use the same bird species whose nest they were born in to parasitise it and mimick the hosts‘ eggs. Very interesting behaviour.

Cally Staniland
Master Tracker

Gosh interesting James, let’s hope that they manage to outdo the African cuckoo’s! 🙏🏻💕
Do the Drongo pair for life ?

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Good question Cally,
Yes they are monogamous!

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Hopefully the drongos will be able to keep a step ahead of the cuckoos. Learned something new about cuckoo behavior – their propensity to parasitism. Another fact to file away c

Kris Dirk
Senior Digital Ranger

love those drongo pics

Jennifer Horne
Explorer

Fascinating James. We have the Channel-billed cuckoo in Australia. A huge bird (up to 65cm) with a massive bill. It is primarily a fruit-eating bird but it lays its eggs in nests of other birds that are primarily carnivores. That has always puzzled me. Also it’s eggs are so much bigger than the host bird’s eggs. Please keep us posted as to what happens with the drongo’s nest.

Carly M
Digital Tracker

Please keep us posted on this story. I’d love to hear what happens and how these drongos go – if a cuckoo snuck an egg in their nest or not – fingers crossed those are little drongo babies being incubated in the nest only!

Chelsea Allard
Master Tracker

I’m interested to follow along with this pair and see what happens.

Paul Canales
Master Tracker

Another intrigue in the making! Do keep us posted!!

Nicole Bernhardt
Senior Digital Ranger

Intersting blog, thank you. Best of luck to the Drongo family!

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