Black-winged Cuckooshrike

Overview

The black-winged cuckooshrike (Lalage melaschistos), also known as lesser grey cuckooshrike or dark grey cuckooshrike, is a species of cuckooshrike found in South to Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is unrelated to either shrikes or cuckoos.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird with grey upper parts and contrasting black wings, tail, bill, and legs.
• Features a white vent and a tail with graduated white tips; males have unbarred grey underparts, while females are paler with faint barring underneath.
• Produces a loud descending call described as 'twit twit to we'.

Habitat

This species breeds in deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen forests in mountainous regions between 300 and 2450 metres elevation, ranging from Northeast Pakistan through the lower Himalayan region, Northeast Myanmar, China, and Southeast Asia. In winter, it migrates altitudinally or south to open forests and groves in foothills, extending as far as Kerala, Bengal, and Bangladesh.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of invertebrates, specifically caterpillars, beetles, and other bugs. These birds are known to join mixed feeding parties while foraging.

Did you know?

Although its common name suggests a connection to shrikes or cuckoos, this species is taxonomically unrelated to either group.