Gray-headed Cicadabird Edolisoma schisticeps Scientific name definitions

21–22 cm; 48–57 g. Male nominate race has crown and upperparts, including lesser and median upperwing-coverts, slaty grey, side of head darker grey, feathers in front of eye, cheeks and chin blackish; greater coverts paler grey; alula, primary coverts and primaries black; secondaries and tertials black, broadly edged grey; tail black, tipped ashy grey, central two feathers dark ashy grey with subterminal black band; underparts slaty grey, axillaries and underwing-coverts slaty grey; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Distinguished from very similar E. tenuirostre by smaller size, shorter bill, less distinct paler edges of secondaries; from E. morio by lack of black “shoulder”. Female has crown to nape slaty grey, feathers in front of eye blackish, head side rufous, upperparts rufous-brown, more chestnut on rump and uppertail-coverts, flight-feathers blackish-brown, broadly edged rufous-brown on secondaries and tertials, tail black, tipped rufous-buff, central two feathers rufous-brown with black tips; cheeks and entire underparts, including axillaries and underwing-coverts, bright chestnut. Juvenile undescribed; immature like female, subadult male a mixture of grey and rufous. Race reichenowi has blacker chin than nominate, female has rufous crown and nape; poliopsa female similar to nominate female, but slate-grey extends down from crown to ear-coverts and chin; vittatum female has slate-grey ear-coverts and chin, black ventral barring.

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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.

Forest, forest edges and tall secondary growth; sea-level to 1500 m, mainly 150–1200 m.

None recorded.

Eats mainly fruit; also insects, including caterpillars. Gregarious and vocal; forages mainly in canopy, occasionally in middle level.

Vocal and conspicuous. Male has musical “chickity-choo”, female answers with nasal upslurred “weeh weeh”; also has rapid nasal slurs followed by chattering.

No information.

Not globally threatened. Status poorly known. Regarded as locally common.