About Dicrurus hottentottus (Linnaeus, 1766)
The hair-crested drongo, scientifically named Dicrurus hottentottus, is an Asian bird that belongs to the family Dicruridae. This species was previously classified as the same species as Dicrurus bracteatus, and the common name "spangled drongo" was once used for both species; it is now usually only applied to Dicrurus bracteatus. Some taxonomic authorities classify the Sumatran drongo (D. sumatranus) as a subspecies within D. hottentottus. This species is native to a range extending from Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan, through Indochina, to China, Indonesia, and Brunei. Hair-crested drongos travel in small flocks and are very vocal. The spangled drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus, is native to the east coast of Australia, and its name has become a pejorative Australian slang term for a silly person. This slang usage is likely connected to the species' unusual chattering and cackling calls.
