Black Cuckooshrike

Uncommon summer resident. Only the male is black, differing from similar black birds in having a rounded tail and prominent orange-yellow gape. See [Fork-tailed Drongo], [Southern Black Flycatcher] and [Common Square-tailed Drongo] for comparison of male with other similar black birds. About half of South African male birds show the yellow shoulder (a); in Zimbabwe and Botswana most males lack this (b). Female is strikingly different, cuckoo-like as illustrated. Immature like female, young males with increasing areas of black. The call, not often heard, is a soft, high-pitched trill ‘trrrrrrrr…’. Pairs occur sparsely in a variety of wooded habitats, thornveld, mixed bushveld, broad-leaved woodland and coastal bush. Unobtrusive unless calling, frequenting the mid stratum. Often joins bird parties.