Coracina papuensis
The White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Coracina papuensis, is a sleek and often inconspicuous passerine bird, renowned for its distinctive undulating flight reminiscent of a cuckoo, despite being taxonomically unrelated to true cuckoos or shrikes. Averaging 22-28 cm (8.7-11 in) in length and weighing 50-80 g, adult males typically exhibit a striking slate-grey to blackish upperparts, contrasting sharply with a pristine white belly and undertail coverts, often accented by a dark mask extending throug...
Found across a wide range of habitats, from open eucalypt woodlands and rainforest edges to mangroves, savannas, secondary growth, and even suburban parks, from sea level up to 1,500 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of arthropods including caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, supplemented occasionally with small fruits and seeds, typically gleaned from foliage or captured in flight.
White-bellied Cuckooshrikes are diurnal birds, often observed perching conspicuously on exposed branches, silently scanning for prey. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects from foliage and bark, though they are also adept at aerial hawking, launching sudden sorties to snatch...
The White-bellied Cuckooshrike boasts an expansive distribution across Australasia and parts of the Indonesian archipelago. Its primary breeding range encompasses the entirety of New Guinea and its numerous satellite islands, extending across northern and eastern Australia. In Australia, it is fo...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the White-bellied Cuckooshrike is neither a true cuckoo nor a true shrike; its name refers to its cuckoo-like undulating flight and shrike-like hooked bill. - This species exhibits a remarkable adaptability, thriving in everything from dense rainforests to suburban gard...