Cuckoo? Cuckooshrike? Goa, January (1 Viewer)

[Barred Wobbler]

When I saw this bird briefly in a treetop in open woodland in Goa a couple of weeks ago I thought it was a juv. grey-bellied cuckoo. Now that I'm home and on my computer I realise it's not (no barring under tail etc). With hindsight I also feel that it was too small.

I'm now thinking black-headed cuckooshrike, but it doesn't look quite right for that either, going off my field guide, although it doesn't show a juvenile.

What is it?

 

[Steve Schoech]

Your bird looks pretty similar to some of the Black-headed Cuckooshrikes pictured here ... https://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/57882/gallery

 

[andyb39]

Weird-looking bird in some kind of transitional plumage. My first thought was Violet Cuckoo but that would have strong barring on the belly and undertail. Black-headed Cuckooshrike looks much more likely, especially as it has the rather swollen-looking undertail coverts of that species, but the bill colour and dark patches on the back don't look quite right.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Weird-looking bird in some kind of transitional plumage. My first thought was Violet Cuckoo but that would have strong barring on the belly and undertail. Black-headed Cuckooshrike looks much more likely, especially as it has the rather swollen-looking undertail coverts of that species, but the bill colour and dark patches on the back don't look quite right.

I think at least some of the dark patches are shadows of leaves. Here is another shot to compare the pattern.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Weird-looking bird in some kind of transitional plumage. My first thought was Violet Cuckoo but that would have strong barring on the belly and undertail. Black-headed Cuckooshrike looks much more likely, especially as it has the rather swollen-looking undertail coverts of that species, but the bill colour and dark patches on the back don't look quite right.

Your thought pattern mirrored mine exactly Andy.



A

 

[andyb39]

The new image looks even odder. I think some of the apparent dark patches are either the shadow of leaves being cast onto the bird, or the result of the photographer shooting through leaves. I still can't explain the oddly warm coloration on the upperparts. I think though that with that mouthful of rictal bristles, it must be the Cuckooshrike. Or is that a barred throat? I give up.

This is what an immature should look like though. Where's the dark eyestripe and/or supercilium?

http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_ID=2301&Bird_Image_ID=130040

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I sent the photo to India and just had it confirmed a few minutes ago as a female black-headed cuckooshrike. The warm cast to the photo was a result of early morning light from a low sun (08.40am) and the apparent dark patches are shadows cast by the leaves (the leaves also gave problems with focusing on this active bird in the few seconds it was in view).

Thanks for your help.