SPANGLED DRONGO. 
“ Spangled Drongos were first seen in the Townsville Gardens. On the 
Claudie they were common both in the scrub and open forest. Nesting 
commenced about the 23rd December; thence afterwards it continued until 
well on into January. These birds are insectivorous. A few were seen along 
the Archer River.” 
Capt. S. A. White writes: “ Met with these birds throughout Northern 
N.S.W. and Queensland. They are an elegant bird upon the wing, with their 
remarkable forked tail and shiny plumage, and quite a delight to watch 
when hawliing for insects from the top of some forest tree. In the scrubs 
near Darwhi this is a common bhd and can be seen with other birds 
amongst the flowering tree-tops after insects attracted by the blossoms. 
Ramsay, the second, has written from the Upper Clarence River district. 
New South Wales: “ Fairly common at Camp 2, and a most quarrelsome 
bird. I have more than once lost sight of a female Rifle-Bird through a 
Drongo suddenly swooping down and driving her away. If its victim is in 
the air it has httle hope of escape, but I have seen the Rifle-Bird put up 
a good fight when on a branch and ultimately drive away the intruder. 
As noted above, on two occasions, at least, they took possession of nests of 
the Oriole.” 
H. L. White has recorded McLemian’s notes on his King River trip: 
“ Port Bradshaw, 1/9/16: Birds noticed about small patch of scrub. Glyde 
River, 11/9/15: Occasionally seen along the river and in patches of scrub 
on ridges. Liverpool River, 21/9/15 : Few birds seen. King River: Occa¬ 
sionally seen along the flats. Liverpool River Island, 27/1/16: Two birds 
seen. Howard Island Channel, 31/1/16: Seen occasionally. Port Bradshaw, 
5/2/16: A few seen. Stomach, remains of insects.” 
D’Ombrain has recorded: “ In January, 1915, saw a Drongo Shrike at 
Gordon (near Sydney). This is rather an unusual locality for it. It was seen 
afterwards near Gordon feeding a young one which has evidently been reared 
there.” 
Recording birds from the Rockingham Bay district, Campbell and Barnard 
wrote: “ The Drongo was often seen, and might be sometimes mistaken for 
a Black Butcher-Bird as it darts through the timber. If this bird migrates 
from New Guinea (one of us has observed it doing so) why does Mathews 
make two subspecies of the Drongo—one for Queensland and the other for 
Northern Territory ? ” Later, reviewing a male and female from Torres 
Straits, Campbell wrote: “These shining and spangled specimens are typical. 
There does not appear sufficient grounds for two races or subspecies in 
Austraha. This migratory species was commonly seen during November, 
December, and up to about the middle of January.” 
