Lalage melanoptera
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike (*Lalage melanoptera*) is a striking passerine belonging to the Campephagidae family, exhibiting pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are easily identified by their glossy black head, extending to the nape and upper back, contrasting sharply with their pristine white underparts, grey rump, and black wings featuring a prominent white wing bar. They typically measure around 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weigh 25-35 grams. Females, in contrast, possess a duller...
Primarily found in open deciduous forests, forest edges, scrublands, cultivated areas, plantations, and large gardens. It typically occurs at low to moderate elevations, generally below 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on insects, including caterpillars, beetles, locusts, and other arthropods, which it gleans from foliage or catches in flight. Occasionally consumes small berries.
Black-headed Cuckooshrikes are diurnal and often observed singly or in pairs, though outside the breeding season, they may join small family groups or mixed-species foraging flocks. They are agile foragers, primarily gleaning insects and larvae from foliage, branches, and tree bark, often exhibit...
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike has a wide distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding range extends from Pakistan and northern India, through Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, eastward into Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and peninsular Malaysia...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the Black-headed Cuckooshrike is not closely related to true cuckoos; the "cuckoo" part of its name refers to its somewhat undulating flight pattern. - The "shrike" in its name refers to its insectivorous diet and sometimes shrike-like habit of feeding on larger prey. -...