Lalage fimbriata
The Lesser Cuckooshrike, *Lalage fimbriata*, is an elegant passerine bird belonging to the Campephagidae family, which encompasses cuckooshrikes and trillers. Measuring approximately 18-20 cm in length and weighing around 20-30 grams, this species exhibits a refined, soft grey plumage. Males typically display a uniform dark grey on their upperparts, transitioning to paler grey on the underparts and a distinctive white vent, while females are subtly lighter grey, sometimes showing faint barrin...
Primarily found in subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, often preferring forest edges, secondary growth, and mangrove forests. It occurs from sea level up to elevations of around 1,500 meters, occasionally higher.
The diet consists predominantly of insects, such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and mantids, which it gleans from foliage or catches in short aerial pursuits. It also occasionally supplements its insectivorous diet with small fruits.
The Lesser Cuckooshrike is primarily an arboreal species, spending most of its diurnal hours in the forest canopy and subcanopy, where it is often observed either singly or in pairs. It typically roosts within dense foliage at night, remaining hidden. Foraging involves a meticulous gleaning techn...
The Lesser Cuckooshrike is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, spanning from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Bali. Its breeding range largely overlaps with its year-round residency, with no significant migratory movements observed beyond local dispersal. Within the Ma...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the Lesser Cuckooshrike is not closely related to true cuckoos; the "cuckoo" in its name refers to a perceived similarity in plumage or call of some species in the Campephagidae family. - Its scientific genus name, *Lalage*, is derived from the Greek word for a chatteri...