Grey Cuckooshrike
Coracina caesia
Forest fringes. Dark grey all over; flight feathers, tail and soft parts black.
Cuckooshrikes
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Uncommon, localised resident. All-grey coloration diagnostic; female lacks the black lores. Immature has white-tipped feathers, giving a freckled appearance. In flight, broad, square-ended tail obvious. The call is a quiet, high-pitched ‘peeeeeooooo’, usually while perched; also utters a variety of chittering and trilling sounds while feeding. Occurs singly or in pairs in eastern evergreen forests, riparian forest and forested valleys, where it frequents tree canopies.
Quick Facts
Size
27 cm - M
Names
A: Bloukatakoeroe
Z: iKlebedwane
Ss: Mmaselakgwasa
G: Grauer Raupenfänger, Waldraupenfänger
Bird Family
A large family of slender, medium-sized birds with sturdy bills, neither related to Cuckoos nor Shrikes, despite some species having a superficial resemblance to both. They are found in pairs or small, loose groups in the larger trees of forest fringes, riparian forest and woodland. They feed on insects (caterpillars in particular) and, occasionally, fruit.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly or in pairs in eastern evergreen forests, riparian 'forest' and forested valleys, where it frequents tree canopies.
