Cuckooshrike

Last updated

Cuckooshrike
Blackfacedcuckooshrike.jpg
Black-faced cuckooshrike
Coracina novaehollandiae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Infraorder: Corvides
Family: Campephagidae
Vigors, 1825
Genera

See text

The cuckooshrikes and allies in the family Campephagidae are small to medium-sized passerine bird species found in the subtropical and tropical Africa, Asia and Australasia. The 93 species are divided into 11 genera. The woodshrikes ( Tephrodornis ) were often considered to be in this family but are now placed in their own family, Vangidae, along with the philentomas and the flycatcher-shrikes. Another genus, Chlamydochaera , which has one species, the black-breasted fruithunter, was often placed in this family but has now been shown to be a thrush (Turdidae).

Contents

Taxonomy

Cuckooshrikes are not closely related to either the cuckoos or to the shrikes; the name probably comes from the grey colour of many of the cuckooshrikes. Some of the species also bear a superficial resemblance to cuckoos, and have a similar undulating flight. The grey colouration has led to one of their other names, the greybird. In some parts of the world they have also been known as caterpillar-birds, a name derived from their diet. Although unsuspected earlier, DNA studies have suggested they may be related to the Old World orioles (Oriolidae), although they differ strongly in some morphological characteristics (such as skull morphology and the arrangements of feathers on the wing). [1]

A molecular phylogenetic study of the Campephegidae published in 2010 found that the speciose genus Coracina was non-monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization to create monophyletic genera five genera were resurrected. A large group of species previously assigned to Coracina was moved to Edolisoma and a group of Asian and Indian Ocean cuckooshrikes was moved to Lalage . The African cuckooshrikes were moved to Ceblepyris , and three species were placed in monotypic genera: McGregor's cuckooshrike was moved to Malindangia, the pygmy cuckooshrike was moved to Celebesica and the blue cuckooshrike was moved to Cyanograucalus. [2] [3]

Description

Overall the cuckooshrikes are medium to small arboreal birds, generally long and slender. The smallest species is the small minivet at 16 cm (6.3 in) and 6–12 g (0.21–0.42 oz), while the largest is the south Melanesian cuckooshrike at 35 cm (14 in) and 180 grams (0.40 pounds). [4] They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although the minivets are brightly coloured in red, yellow and black, and the blue cuckooshrike of central Africa is all-over glossy blue. The four cuckooshrikes in the genus Campephaga exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males that have glossy black plumage and bright red or yellow wattles, the females having more subdued olive-green plumage. [5]

Habitat

Of the 93 species of cuckooshrike, the majority are forest birds. Some species are restricted to primary forest, like the New Caledonian cuckooshrike, others are able to use more disturbed forest. Around eleven species use much more open habitat, one Australian species, the ground cuckooshrike being found in open plains and scrubland with few trees.

Behaviour

Nesting ground cuckooshrike Ground Cuckoo-shrike nest atkinsons dec03.jpg
Nesting ground cuckooshrike

The 'true' cuckooshrikes are usually found singly, in pairs, and in small family groups, whereas the minivets, flycatcher-shrikes and wood-shrikes more frequently form small flocks. There is a considerable amount of variation within the family as a whole with regards to calls, some call very infrequently and some, principally the minivets, are extremely vocal.

These are mainly insectivorous, and will take large hairy caterpillars. They have also been recorded eating small vertebrates, and some fruit, seeds and other plant matter. [5]

Information about the breeding of this family is incomplete, with many species having never been studied. In all the species studied the cuckooshrikes are territorial; in species that do not migrate these territories are maintained year-round. Cuckooshrikes are monogamous, with the pair bonds apparently lasting throughout the year. Only one instance of non-monogamous breeding has been recorded, an instance of polygyny in white-winged trillers in Australia, where one male aided two females in raising their young. Several species of cuckooshrike exhibit cooperative breeding. About four blotchy white, green or blue eggs are laid in a cup nest in a tree. Incubation is about two weeks.

List of genera

Pericrocotus : minivets, 15 species

Ceblepyris : 5 species

Coracina : 28 species

Campephaga : 4 species

Lobotos : 2 species

Campochaera : Golden cuckooshrike

Malindangia : McGregor's cuckooshrike

Lalage : 20 species

Edolisoma : 31 species

Celebesica : Pygmy cuckooshrike

Cyanograucalus : Blue cuckooshrike

Phylogeny of the genera [2] [3]

The family contains 109 species divided in 11 genera: [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattle-eye</span> Family of birds

Platysteiridae is a family of small, stout passerine birds of the African tropics. The family contains the wattle-eyes, batises and shrike-flycatchers. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatchers, Muscicapidae. These insect-eating birds are usually found in open forests or bush. They hunt by flycatching, or by taking prey from the ground like a shrike. The nest is a small, neat cup, placed low in a tree or bush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The large cuckooshrike is a species of cuckooshrike found in the Indian Subcontinent and depending on the taxonomic treatment used, Southeast Asia. The species has had a long and varied taxonomic treatment, being closely related to forms across Southeast Asia, with some authors using the name Indian cuckooshrike. The species and subspecies classifications vary widely across sources and are yet to be resolved unambiguously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The pygmy cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<i>Coracina</i> Genus of birds

Coracina is a large genus of birds in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The blue cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. It is widespread across the African tropical rainforest, from Sierra Leone and Liberia to eastern and south-western Democratic Republic of Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The grey cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. It is a medium-sized forest bird, with grey to blue-grey plumage and large black eyes. There are two subspecies that occur in forest patches of southern and central Africa respectively.

Grauer's cuckooshrike is a little known species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is found in mid-elevation montane forests, where it can be locally common. Similar to other species endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is rarely reported due to ongoing armed conflict in the Albertine Rift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McGregor's cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

McGregor's cuckooshrike or the sharp-tailed cuckooshrike, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to Mindanao island on the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is declining due to habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerulean cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The cerulean cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Other common names for this bird include the Sulawesi cuckooshrike, the Celebes cuckooshrike and Temminck's cuckooshrike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manus cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The Manus cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is found in the Admiralty Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the white-bellied cuckooshrike.

<i>Lobotos</i> Genus of bird

Lobotos is a genus of bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. It is sometimes included in the genus Campephaga. It contains the following two species:

<i>Lalage</i> (bird) Genus of birds

Lalage is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae, many of which are commonly known as trillers. There are about 18 species which occur in southern Asia and Australasia with a number of species on Pacific islands. They feed mainly on insects and fruit. They build a neat cup-shaped nest high in a tree.

<i>Edolisoma</i> Genus of birds

Edolisoma is a genus of birds in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae that are native to the Central Indo-Pacific region, Australia and New Guinea.

<i>Ceblepyris</i> Genus of birds

Ceblepyris is a genus of African passerine birds in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae.

References

  1. ↑ Jønsson, K.A.; Irestedt, M.; Fuchs, J.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Christidis, L.; Bowie, R.C.K.; Norman, J.A.; Pasque, E.; Fjeldså, J. (2008). "Explosive avian radiations and multi-directional dispersal across Wallacea: Evidence from the Campephagidae and other crown Corvida (Aves)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47: 221–236. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.01.017.
  2. 1 2 Jønsson, K.A.; Bowie, R.C.K.; Nylander, J.A.A.; Christidis, L.; Norman, J.A.; Fjeldså, J. (2010). "Biogeographical history of cuckoo-shrikes (Aves: Passeriformes): transoceanic colonization of Africa from Australo-Papua". Journal of Biogeography. 37: 1767–1781. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02328.x.
  3. 1 2 3 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Bristlehead, butcherbirds, woodswallows, Mottled Berryhunter, ioras, cuckooshrikes". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ↑ National Geographic Complete Birds of the World by Jonathan Alderfer. National Geographic (2009), ISBN   978-1-4262-0403-6.
  5. 1 2 Clancey, P.A. (1991). Forshaw, Joseph (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds. London: Merehurst Press. p. 176. ISBN   1-85391-186-0.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.