BJ's Birding Lessons - Part 6 - Not a Cuckoo, not a Shrike

[gemfyre]

This is a special short edition of birding lessons (which I meant to post before I went to Mt. Gibson). I couldn't figure out where else I'd write about this guy, but it needs mentioning because it's actually quite common once you start looking.



Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike - Coracina novaehollandiae


Photo by Aussietrev of Birdforum

The Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (often referred to as a BFCS or "Bifcus" among birders) is neither a cuckoo or a shrike. Just like our Australian Robins aren't like European or American robins and our wrens aren't the same as British or American wrens. I find these guys are more common at certain times of the year, but they're always around.

So, what to look for?
- Soft grey plumage with black tips to the wings, a paler underside and a fully black face. Juvenilles just have a black mask across their eyes.
- Distinctive dipping flight. As Cuckoo-shrikes fly they will stick their wings out and flap briefly, then fold their wings back and bullet along for a bit until they have lost enough height to warrant flapping a few times again. This uses less energy than constant flapping.
- When they alight on a perch they will shuffle their wings about - this gave rise to their nickname "Shufflewing".

They have a curious creaky call when they're talking to nearby Cuckoo-shrikes and a shrill wavering call as they fly. Keep an eye out for the cuckoo-shrike on power lines next time you're driving around town.

Comments

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I wonder if some of the juvenile magpies I've seen over the years have actually been these? Are they big enough to be mistaken for a smallish magpie?

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I'm not sure. I guess it's now just so ingrained in me that "that's a magpie, that's a cuckoo-shrike." that I couldn't see how they could be similar, but thinking about it, they COULD.

By the time young magpies become noticeable they're about the size of the adults anyway, but for someone who didn't know that, Cuckoo-shrikes may easily be passed off as young magpies (like people often do with Magpie Larks).

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

These guys are really awesome and I remember seeing quite a few of them around home growing up.

I've also been enjoyign reading your birding posts, thanks for writing them.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

:) Thanks.

I noticed that you are on Meg Green's friends list on Facebook. Are you two related at all? I worked with Meg in Narrogin at DEC.

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

Meg is my younger cousin :) I've known her all her life.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I love love love the way these guys fly. :) There used to be heaps at ECU.