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Spangled Drongo

To: <>
Subject: Spangled Drongo
From: "Tim Murphy" <>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 09:51:43 +1000
Brain Finch told me some time ago that the Spangled Drongo in PNG can mimic up to 60 different birds. While it might lure small birds in, it is more probably a way of demonstrating intelligence and biological fitness. My local Drongos seem to specialise in Sacred Kingfisher calls, for what that is worth.
 
Tim Murphy.
 
 ---Original Message-----
From: [On Behalf Of Phillip DUKE
Sent: Wednesday, 18 February 2004 6:57 PM
To:
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Spangled Drongo

I read with interest Robyn Howard's account of the Spangled Drongo's mimicking other birds calls.
 
In July 1974 while camping on the Back Beach of Fraser Island, I saw a Drongo take a Scarlet or Red-headed  Honeyeater while both were on the wing.  This was the only time I've seen a Drongo take another bird.
 
Would this mimicking be a form of entrapment?
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