Family Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)
Least Concern
Grey Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris caesius)
Taxonomy
French: Échenilleur gris German: Waldraupenfänger Spanish: Oruguero gris
Taxonomy:
Ceblepyris caesia
M. H. C. Lichtenstein
, 1823,Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
.
Subspecies and Distribution
C. c. purus
(Sharpe, 1891) – SE Nigeria (Obudu Plateau), W Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (Bioko and Mt Alen); also C Ethiopia, S South Sudan and NE DRCongo S to Malawi and adjacent NW Mozambique.
C. c. caesius
M. H. C. Lichtenstein, 1823 – Zimbabwe and C Mozambique S to E & S South Africa.
Descriptive notes
25–27 cm; 53–66 g (nominate), 40–63 g (purus). Male is almost entirely uniform medium grey, paler on forehead and forecrown and around eye, with... read more
Voice
Thin, high-pitched, downslurred whistle, “seeea” or “peeee-oooo”, lasting c... read more
Habitat
Evergreen forest, forest patches, well-wooded watercourses with tall trees, and scattered trees... read more
Food and feeding
Takes insects, particularly caterpillars (Lepidoptera), crickets (Gryllidae) and grasshoppers (Orthoptera), as well as termite alates (... read more
Breeding
Breeds during rains, but avoids wettest months: Aug and Dec in Sudan, possibly Feb–Mar in Ethiopia; Jan–Mar, Aug, Oct and Dec... read more
Movements
Largely resident, but some local seasonal movements. Some post-breeding migration to lower... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Locally frequent to common in N of range, but rare on Bioko I; mainly uncommon S from Malawi and Zimbabwe. Density in NE South Africa 6 birds/4... read more
Proposed race preussi (E Nigeria and Bioko) has slightly darker throat than purus, but otherwise similar. Two subspecies currently recognized.