- Tephrodornis sylvicola
Identification
16·5–18·5 cm (6½-7¼ in) A large, dark woodshrike.
- Broad dark mask without pale supercilium
- Whitish stripe below mask
- Dark blue-grey crown and upper mantle
- Cold dark upperparts
- White rump
- Dark tail
- White underparts, grey-brown throat and breast
- Black bill
Females are dark slaty-brown above and have a weaker dark grey mask. Their bill is dark brown.
Distribution
South-western India (Western Ghats from Narbada River to Kerala). An isolated population in the Surat Dangs, Gujarat.
Occurs up to 1800m but is usually found at lower elevations.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Split from Large Woodshrike.[1][2]
Habitat
Evergreen forest, forest edge and glades. In moister habitat than Common Woodshrike.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects obtained from aerial swoops. Also frequents the edge of water courses where it will pick off insects from the water surfaces.
They are generally seen in pairs or small groups, but will join mixed species flocks.
Breeding
The construct a shallow nest from moss, fibres and pieces of bark.
If the first nest fails, they will lay another clutch.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2010. IOC World Bird Names (version 2.7). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2019)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Malabar Woodshrike. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Malabar_Woodshrike
