Edolisoma grayi
The North Moluccan Cicadabird, *Edolisoma grayi*, is a striking passerine endemic to the North Moluccas, showcasing pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are sleek, uniformly glossy black, presenting a stark contrast to the females, which display a muted yet elegant greyish-brown plumage, often with paler underparts. Averaging 20-22 cm in length with a wingspan of 30-35 cm and weighing around 30-40 grams, it is a medium-sized cuckooshrike. Taxonomically, it belongs to the Campephagidae family, ...
This species primarily inhabits the canopy and sub-canopy of tropical lowland and foothill rainforests, preferring dense, mature forest but also found in forest edge and regenerating secondary growth up to around 1000 meters elevation.
Its diet consists predominantly of insects, including cicadas, caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods, supplemented occasionally with small fruits and berries gleaned from the forest canopy.
North Moluccan Cicadabirds are diurnal and typically observed singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks. They are active arboreal foragers, systematically gleaning insects and larvae from foliage and branches within the forest canopy, employing short, agile flights be...
The North Moluccan Cicadabird is strictly endemic to the northern Moluccas (Maluku Utara) archipelago in eastern Indonesia, primarily inhabiting the larger islands of Halmahera, Morotai, Bacan, Ternate, and Tidore. A distinct subspecies, *Edolisoma grayi obiensis*, is found exclusively on the Obi...
Least Concern
- The genus name "Cicadabird" is derived from the species' distinctive, often monotonous calls that mimic the sounds of large cicadas. - Male North Moluccan Cicadabirds are entirely glossy black, making them one of the most strikingly monochromatic members of the cuckooshrike family. - Females, i...