Ceblepyris pectoralis
The White-breasted Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris pectoralis), a striking passerine within the Campephagidae family, is a medium-sized bird measuring 23-26 cm in length and weighing 30-40 grams. It exhibits a distinctive slate-grey plumage across its upperparts, contrasting sharply with its pristine white underparts. Key field marks include a conspicuous black mask or loral stripe extending through the eye, a strong, slightly hooked bill, and dark grey wings and tail. While its name suggests a rela...
This species favors a variety of woodland and savanna habitats, including open deciduous woodlands, riverine forests, and acacia savannas, typically found from sea level up to 2000 meters in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists mainly of caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, stick insects, and other arthropods, supplemented occasionally by small fruits. It forages primarily by gleaning from tree foliage and bark.
The White-breasted Cuckooshrike is a diurnal species, typically observed singly or in pairs, rarely forming larger flocks outside of post-breeding dispersal. It forages primarily by gleaning insects and larvae from the foliage and bark of trees, often working its way methodically through the cano...
The White-breasted Cuckooshrike is widely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, maintaining a resident presence throughout its extensive range. Its distribution spans from Senegal in West Africa eastward through parts of Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African ...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the White-breasted Cuckooshrike is not closely related to true cuckoos (Cuculidae) or shrikes (Laniidae), belonging instead to the unique Campephagidae family, often called 'Old World cuckooshrikes'. - Its slightly hooked bill is a characteristic feature of cuckooshrike...