a black, crested Malagasy flycatcher, a superb mimic who defends his territory against birds of all species (which doubtless correlates with his determined mimicry). In Ambinanitelo the drongo is protected by fady because during a pirate raid in the last century the women and children fled into the bush. A crying baby threatened to reveal their hiding place, but they were saved by a drongo in plain view who picked up the baby's cry and repeated it until the pursuers were persuaded that they had been hearing only the bird.

That the drongo is inedible as well as a cheerful and entertaining chap doesn't hurt his case with the villagers, but this is one of the rare instances in which fady still protects an animal.