Comoro Cuckooshrike Coracina cucullata Scientific name definitions

22–24 cm. Compared to formerly conspecific Madagascar Cuckooshrike (Coracina cinerea) the present species is smaller, darker above , marginally paler on head, dark nuchal collar, almost white underparts , upper chest pure white, and also occurs as olive morph having olive-green hood and upperparts and primrose-yellow underparts (“sulphurea”); race moheliensis differs from nominate mainly in having no contrast between crown and mantle, nuchal collar less dark, chin and throat dark grey (not black) and slightly stronger grey wash on underparts (including chest). Olive morph (commoner on Grande Comore than Mohéli) is apparently unique within the family.

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Usually considered conspecific with Coracina cinerea, but differs in its whitish vs grey underparts (2); whitish (nominate) or all-white (moheliensis) chin and throat in female (1); somewhat smaller size, with distinctly shorter wings (published data (1 Safford, R.J. and Hawkins, A.F.A. eds. (2013). The Birds of Africa. Vol. 8. The Malagasy region. Christopher Helm, London. Close ) indicate c.10% longer in Coracina cinerea; allow 2); and different vocalizations (2 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Madagascar Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina cinerea). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 178. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Close ), main contact call being less explosive and quieter (1 Safford, R.J. and Hawkins, A.F.A. eds. (2013). The Birds of Africa. Vol. 8. The Malagasy region. Christopher Helm, London. Close ) (allow 2); also possesses a colour morph (olive above, yellowish below; once considered a species, Coracina sulphurea) never recorded in Coracina cinerea (ns). Two subspecies recognized.

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.

Diet poorly known, but apparently similar to that of Coracina cinerea (with which present species was formerly treated as conspecific), including beetles (Coleoptera), true bugs (Hemiptera), small caterpillars, grasshoppers (Orthoptera), mantids (Mantidae), spiders (Araneae) and myriapods, as well as some fruit. Foraging behaviour also similar to that of former conspecific, as species regularly joins mixed-species feeding flocks in midstorey, gleaning prey from leaf bases and leaves, but also short sallies to air.

Vocalizations of nominate race considered to be less explosive and quieter than Madagascar Cuckooshrike (Coracina cinerea), but structure similar; call a loud, high-pitched and snappy “whi-whew”, with the second note lower than the first, or a quieter but still penetrating “pew” or “pew-pew”, or a pleasant-sounding “kwiek-fie-pfjoew”, as well as a lower, groaning “crawcrawcrawcraw”, which is probably given in distress. Race moheliensis gives a short, sharp medium-high-pitched “chi-we” or “che-wi”, as well as a short, mechanical and grating “trrr trrr trrr”, possibly given in alarm.

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: confined to Comoro Islands EBA, an area of high biological importance but severely threatened. Population believed to be decreasing and is thought to currently number fewer than 2500 individuals. Found on the islands of Grand Comore and Mohéli, the species is common around Mt Karthala, on Grand Comore, but densities on Mohéli are far lower than that of the Grand Comore population. Threatened by habitat loss, particularly on Mohéli; the main threats to native forest on Mt Karthala are clearance for agriculture, invasion of exotic plant species and commercial logging on the SW slopes. If plans to build a road to Mt Karthala’s crater are resurrected, exploitation and fragmentation of the forest, and the spread of exotic species, could be accelerated.