Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava Scientific name definitions

19–22 cm; 27–40 g. Male is black, glossed greenish-blue; often has yellow lesser upperwing-coverts forming patch at bend of wing; iris blackish; bill black, gape yellow; legs black. Distinguished from very similar C. petiti by smaller yellow gape, from C. quiscalina by lack of purple gloss on face, neck and underparts, and by yellow (not orange) gape, from both also by yellow on wing (when present); “yellow-shouldered” male differs from very similar C. phoenicea in having normally smaller, less orangey patch confined to lesser coverts, although a few individuals may not be distinguishable. Female is very different, olive-green to olive-brown above, but rump and uppertail-coverts grey or brown with black bars that extend variably to back and scapulars; whitish supercilium, black streak through eye; flight-feathers and wing-coverts edged or fringed yellow, tail blackish-brown, outer feather pair yellow except for base of inner web; white with blackish bars and crescentic marks below, yellow wash on breast side often extending across breast and on to flanks, bright yellow underwing-coverts. Juvenile is similar to female, but entire head and upperparts barred blackish, underparts more heavily and broadly barred, bars becoming spade-shaped on belly; immature very similar to adult.

S South Sudan and SW Ethiopia S to Uganda and Kenya, thence S to S DRCongo, Angola, N Namibia, N & E Botswana and N South Africa and Swaziland, S along coast to Western Cape; recorded, probably as migrants, in S Somalia (1 Ash, J. S., and J. E. Miskell (1998). Birds of Somalia. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Can occur in virtually any woodland or forest habitat, from acacia (Acacia), mopane (Colophospermum mopane) and brachystegia (Brachystegia) woodland to riparian forest, the edges of evergreen forest and secondary growth; less commonly in savanna, scrub, semi-arid bush, gardens and exotic plantations. In E Africa occurs in forest from sea-level to 1800 m, breeding above 900 m; in SC Africa breeds mainly in woodland at 1000–2000 m, but occurs in riverine and forest habitats down to 50 m outside breeding season; breeds near sea-level in Cape region. In areas of geographical overlap with C. petiti, largely ecologically separated by its preference for woodland and forest edge, rather than true forest. In areas of overlap with C. phoenicea both species recorded in variety of habitats, including juniper (Juniperus) forest in S Ethiopia, but present species usually in less thick vegetation.

Resident, nomadic or migratory. Local appearances often irregular. In S Africa, breeds in plateau country from Sept/Oct and then moves to lower altitudes from Apr/May onwards; movements apparently influenced by rainfall, fewer birds moving away from breeding areas in wet years. Many move N to equator after breeding; mainly a non-breeding visitor to Kenya, N Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda in Apr–Sept, Somalia Jun–Oct and S Sudan during rains. In S Africa, post-breeding movements appear to be E, probably into Mozambique and major valley systems (such as that of R Zambezi). Some “overwintering” recorded in Zambia (E of 25° E) and NE South Africa; occurs in S coastal regions throughout year. Attracted to lights at night in SE Kenya (Ngulia) during Nov–Jan.

Food primarily insects, mainly lepidopterans (especially caterpillars, including hairy ones), also termite alates (Isoptera), and orthopterans, including katydids (Tettigoniidae); also eats spiders (Araneae) and ants (Hymenoptera); fruit and tree seeds also taken. Normally forages within and at edge of canopy, occasionally on the ground. Usually moves quickly from tree to tree; often joins mixed-species parties. Forages by searching leaves, bark and lichens; prey caught in fluttering hops, sometimes (e.g. termite alates) in short flights; sometimes hovers to pick prey from leaves.

Often silent, but sometimes a high-pitched, penetrating, insect-like trill, “krrreee”, lasting c. 1 second, when foraging or in flight. Other calls include lower-pitched, downslurred “chweeu” or “kreeu”, short “chip”, “chup” or “tsip”, hissing “sseeu”, also a repeated unmusical “chwrr” as alarm, also a soft, repeated “seeu”, a quiet peeping when foraging, and various squeaks.

Breeds mainly during rains: in Apr in Ethiopia, Mar–May in Kenya, Dec–Feb and Apr–May in Tanzania, Oct in Zanzibar; Oct–Jan in SE DRCongo, Zambia and Malawi, Sept–Feb in Zimbabwe, Sept–Jan in Mozambique, Nov in Botswana; Oct–Jan, rarely Sept and Feb, in South Africa. Monogamous; territorial. In apparent courtship display, a pair called with trills and the male performed fluttering, moth-like flight with the tail depressed, after which the female joined the male, flicking her wings. Nest built by female , accompanied by male, a small shallow cup of moss, leaf petioles, lichen and bearded lichens (Usnea), lined with fine fibres, hair and leaf midribs, and bound with spider webs; moulded into flat fork or saddle, usually 5–18 m up in tree, often far out on branch, and easily overlooked. Eggs 1–3, usually 2; incubation by female only, period 20 days; male feeds female and defends area near nest; chicks fed by both parents, fledge at 20–23 days.

Not globally threatened. Widespread; probably common but status difficult to ascertain, as probably under-recorded owing to its unobtrusiveness. Generally regarded as uncommon to frequent, and seasonally common in Kenya, Zambia, S Mozambique and N South Africa ; in last-mentioned, density 1 pair/30 ha. No information on any change in overall distribution, but numbers have probably declined as a result of widespread destruction of woodland and forest throughout its range. Species is apparently relatively undisturbed by presence of humans, as it forages and nests in gardens. Occurs in a large number of protected areas over its extensive range.