Coracina mindorensis
The Mindoro Cuckooshrike (*Coracina mindorensis*) is a striking, medium-sized passerine endemic to Mindoro Island in the Philippines, measuring approximately 25-27 cm in length. Males are entirely clad in a uniform slate-grey plumage, with darker primaries and a slightly darker tail, while females are very similar, often indistinguishable in the field. Its streamlined body and relatively long tail give it a distinctive silhouette as it moves through the forest canopy. Key field marks include ...
This species primarily inhabits primary and secondary lowland and montane forests, as well as forest edges, typically found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a variety of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and orthopterans, which it gleans from foliage and bark.
The Mindoro Cuckooshrike is a diurnal species, active throughout the day as it forages high in the forest canopy and mid-story. It employs a gleaning strategy, methodically searching foliage and probing bark for hidden insects. While often encountered solitarily or in pairs, it frequently joins m...
The Mindoro Cuckooshrike is strictly endemic to Mindoro Island, one of the larger islands in the Philippines archipelago. Its distribution spans across the remaining forested areas of the island, from coastal lowlands to montane forests, typically up to elevations of about 1000 meters. There is n...
Vulnerable
- The Mindoro Cuckooshrike is a true island specialist, found nowhere else in the world except Mindoro Island in the Philippines. - Despite its name, it is not related to true cuckoos; the 'cuckoo' in its name likely refers to its undulating flight pattern. - It is a highly sought-after bird by t...