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Large Cuckooshrike - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 09:36, 31 July 2014 by Wintibird (talk | contribs) (completed)

Alternative names: Black-throated Cuckooshrike; Indian Cuckooshrike

Photo by atanumondal
Coracina macei

Identification

23-30 cm. A very large Cuckooshrike with a massive, hooked bill.

  • Grey upperparts with pale-winged appearance
  • Blackish lores and mask
  • Grey throat and breast
  • White belly with narrow grey bars
  • Unbarred white vent

Females with a paler mask and a white, barred throat and breast.
Juveniles are brownish, heavily scaled whitish-buff and more mottled on underparts.
The different subspecies differ mainly in size, overall colour and barring of underparts:

  • nipalensis is the darkest subspecies and the largest; males are unbarred below, females weakly barred
  • layardi similar to nominate but smaller with short wings
  • andaman is paler with less black on head, males unbarred below, females weakly barred
  • siamensis males are unbarred below, females are weakly barred
  • larutensis is similar to siamensis but darker grey
  • rexpineti is also similar but darker on throat and head
  • larvivora similar to rexpineti but with shorter wings and more robust bill

Distribution

South east Asia: Indian Subcontinent east to Burma, southern China, Taiwan and south to Thailand, Indochina and northern peninsular Malaysia.
Rare in Pakistan, uncommon in Bhutan but common to fairly common in rest of its range.

Taxonomy

Eight subspecies recognized:

All subspecies except the nominate or, alternatively, only larutensis are sometimes placed in Javan Cuckooshrike. Further research is needed to determine exact relationship.
layardi may represent a separate species as it differs in calls and morphology.
Forms a superspecies with Black-faced Cuckooshrike, South Melanesian Cuckooshrike, North Melanesian Cuckooshrike, Buru Cuckooshrike, Moluccan Cuckooshrike, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, Slaty Cuckooshrike and Javan Cuckooshrike. All these species have been considered conspecific in the past.

Habitat

Found in open woodland and secondary forest. Also scrub, groves, edges of clearings, plantations, savanna, cultivated areas with some trees and gardens.
From lowland to foothills, occurs up to 2400 m.

Behaviour

Usually seen singly, in pairs or in loose groups.

Diet

Feeds on large insects and their larvae. Takes also berries and fruits.
Forages mainly in the canopy of large trees but sometimes lower down in bushes or even on the ground. Searches methodically for insects, hopping and flying from branch to branch.

Breeding

Breeding season differs through range. The nest is a shallow, flimsy saucer made of twigs and grass. It's placed up to 18 m above the ground in the fork of a horizontal branch in a tree. Lays 2-3 eggs.

Movements

Local movements in peninsular India recorded. Descends to lower altitudes in the Himalayas in winter.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2014)

Recommended Citation

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