The only all-black perching bird in the region to have a deeply forked tail. Square-tailed drongo and southern flycatcher are similar, but are smaller and have only a slight fork in the tail.
Juvenile has buff-tipped feathers on the underparts and forewing, and a yellow gape.
It is carnivorous, mostly taking invertebrates and small vertebrates, sometimes hunting from perches, catching insects in mid-air. It is occasionally plunge-dives to catch fish. It has also been recorded to feed at the fronts of bush fires, presumably to get disturbed or toasted insects.
Woodland, savanna and exotic plantations.
A variety of grating shrill notes; mimics birds of prey, especially Pearl-spotted owlett.