Golden Cuckooshrike Campochaera sloetii Scientific name definitions

20 cm; 36–46 g. A small cuckoo-shrike with small bill; striking plumage, dominated by golden-yellow, unique in family. Male nominate race has crown grey; base of forehead, lores and ear-coverts to throat and upper breast black, glossed greenish, black area separated from crown and hindneck by white band; upperparts predominantly golden-yellow, slightly more olive on scapulars, brighter from lower back to uppertail-coverts; upperwing-coverts black, glossed greenish, medians narrowly tipped white, greaters broadly edged white; primary coverts and remiges black, tertials edged white; rectrices black, tipped white, white broadest on outermost; underparts bright golden-yellow, axillaries and underwing-coverts white; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Female is less brilliant yellow than male, has mantle olive-tinged, black on head and breast replaced by grey, but feathers around eye black, grey of crown washed yellow. Juvenile undescribed; immature like female, but grey of head replaced by yellow, with grey patch only on upper breast. Race flaviceps differs from nominate in having crown more greenish, and overall coloration slightly more olive-yellow.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary forest and forest edge; mainly in hill forest, locally also in lowlands near hills. Occurs locally up to 1100 m.

None recorded.

Eats mostly fruit; insects also recorded. Occurs in pairs or small parties in upper canopy and outer foliage. Forages actively and noisily; obtains food by gleaning and by “flycatcher-gleaning”.

Noisy. Male has rapid, bubbling, repeated “chirrapa”, often with upslurred note added, as “chrripaéé” or “wírrápáhee”; often 1–2 pairs of downslurred and upslurred notes added, and female may make chipping or chuckling notes before male’s call. Duetting displays frequent, female giving upslurred or downslurred notes during last 2–3 notes of male’s call. Birds from NW of range lack the musical slurs, start the call with explosive clicking.

No information. Thought to breed during rainy season, Nov–Mar.

Not globally threatened. Known distribution rather patchy; locally common. Not well known.