Coracina caeruleogrisea
The Stout-billed Cuckooshrike (Coracina caeruleogrisea) is a striking passerine bird, endemic to the montane forests of New Guinea. Measuring approximately 30-36 cm (12-14 inches) in length and weighing around 120-150 grams, it is one of the larger members of the Cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. Its robust, slightly hooked bill, from which it derives its common name, is a key identification feature, distinguishing it from other cuckooshrikes in its range. The plumage is generally a uniform...
This species primarily inhabits primary and secondary moist montane forests, forest edges, and occasionally extends into mature secondary growth and gardens. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,700 meters above sea level.
Its diet primarily consists of large insects, including caterpillars, beetles, orthopterans, and cicadas, which it gleans from foliage or catches in short aerial sallies. It supplements its insectivorous diet with some fruits and berries.
The Stout-billed Cuckooshrike is typically observed singly or in pairs, often perched upright on exposed branches within the mid-canopy or sub-canopy layers of the forest. They are active during the day, employing a sit-and-wait foraging strategy, scanning for prey before making short, swift sall...
The Stout-billed Cuckooshrike is endemic to the island of New Guinea, with a widespread but somewhat fragmented distribution across the central mountain ranges and several isolated mountain blocks. Its breeding range encompasses various montane forest habitats throughout both the Indonesian provi...
Least Concern
- The Stout-billed Cuckooshrike is one of the largest members of the Cuckooshrike family (Campephagidae), often reaching lengths comparable to a small crow. - Its common name directly refers to its most prominent feature: a conspicuously thick, robust, and slightly hooked bill perfectly adapted f...