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Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikeAlternate name(s): "Blue Jay", "Grey Jay", "Shufflewing", "Summerbird", "Blue Pigeon", "Lapwing*", "Cherry-hawk", "Leatherhead*"  Aboriginal name(s): Race "melanops":
"gunidjaa" [yuwaalaraay]; "ngoolako", "karebomdo" (WA)Size: 30-36 cm Weight: 90-145 g |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "melanops"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2017]
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow's Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, May 2018]
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow's Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, May 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston, NT, August 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]
Near-frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]
Lateral view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of B.
Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, May 2015]
Lateral view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike going into
contortions while looking for prey
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow's Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, May 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tumbling Waters, near Darwin, NT, September 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]
Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Creek Reservoir, QLD, February 2019]
Dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]
Dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Macquarie Marshes NR,
NSW, May 2021]
Ventral view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of
A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2012]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike dropping a bombshell...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike launching itself into the air
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2008]
Lateral view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike in flight
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, September 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of an immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; this bird
is in the latest stage of the moult into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2012]
Frontal view of an immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike that is
starting to moult into adult
plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]
Frontal view of an immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike that is
starting to moult into adult
plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2009]
Lateral view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, July 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, March 2018]
Lateral view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike waiting to be fed;
note how the bird is angling its wings for evaporative cooling
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]
Lateral view of a juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike waiting
to be fed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2020]
This Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike is so young that is does not have
any characteristic colour features on its head yet - it was identified
by association with its parents, who were always nearby feeding it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with a fledgling chick
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Jan | Eggs: 2 | Incubation period: 21 - 22 days | Fledging age: ca. 21 days |
The breeding season of Black Cuckoo-shrikes depends on geographic latitude and, primarily inland, on weather conditions. The period listed in the table above applies mostly to the SE of the continent. Given the right conditions, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes can breed at any time of the year.
| Nest building: Male & female | Incubation: Male & female | Dependent care: Male & female |
In preparation of mating, the male Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, front,
flaps its wings, while the female, back, adopts a submissive posture...
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
... before the male gets into position (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Twigs, rootlets, bark fibre, casuarina leaves, bound with spider webs | Height above ground: 5 - 25 m |
Nests of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes are constructed on the angle of a fork. They are rather shallow, small baskets, often shaped flat as a saucer, and sometimes quite rudimentary affairs (similar to the nests of Tawny Frogmouths).
With two siblings already gone, this Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
chick finally has space for preening; the next day it had fledged
as well
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike nest with 3 chicks inside
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike watching over its nest site,
with one of the chicks hanging its head over the edge
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike chicks begging silently for food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike bringing food for its chicks,
in this case a spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike feeding one of its chicks with a spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2021]
Close-up view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest in an
Acacia salicina
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest, with its partner nearby and
an immature Olive-backed
Oriole right by them that is not considered to be a threat and
therefore tolerated near the nest
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]
The same Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike as above on its nest, now seen
between the two branches forming the fork in which the nest rests
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest (photo courtesy of
E.
Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, October 2016]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, August 2012]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Tweed River, Tweed Heads, NSW, December 2014]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 31 x 22 mm | Colour: Creamy brown, with darker brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial? | Mobility: Sedentary and nomadic | Elementary unit: Solitary/pair/clan |
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes are well-known for shuffling their wings just after landing.
Dorsal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike shuffling its wings
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2017]
In this case, both the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike shown above and
its partner shuffled their wings repeatedly, as if signaling to
each other
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2017]
In addition to shrieking calls and determined swooping, Black-faced
Cuckoo-shrikes also used the wing shuffle while trying to distract
a Lace Monitor from their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes have a distinct hunting style. They often check out paddocks from fence posts or pickets, moving along the fence line about 10 to 20 metres at a time.
Family of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike hunting from a fence
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2015]
Closer look at an adult Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike hunting from a fence
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2015]
Frontal view of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike cooling by slightly
spreading its wings
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Occasionally we see small groups of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes having vocal arguments. The bird shown below is one of such a group.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike fluttering its wings; this is one of the
birds whose calls
were recorded on 2 October 2014
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]
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Food, Diet |
Like all members of the Coracina family known to us, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes hunt small animals, up to the size of a Praying Mantis or a centipede. Especially while feeding young, we have seen Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes taking lots of spiders. We have also observed a family of birds feeding on fruit (mulberries).
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike carrying food for its fledgling chick
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]
"Too late to prey"... - Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike taking
a Preying Mantis
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2018]
"Too late to prey"... - Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike swallowing
a Preying Mantis
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2018]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with a centipede, an animal
that is poisonous and thereby not taken by most predators
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2008]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with its catch, a cicada
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, January 2018]
This Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike has caught what looks like a locust
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]
Immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with its prey, a moth
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston, NT, August 2018]
Here one Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike of a whole family in a mulberry tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of
A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2012]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement 
are welcome.
| blfcshr_20200301.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Contact call | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20200919.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Contact call | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20200301_2.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Contact calls | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20200919_2.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Contact calls (+ others in bkgd) |
© MD | |
| blfcshr_20190228.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
"Cat whistle" call | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20211225.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Swooping on Lace Monitor | © MD | |
| blfcshr_art_20131204.m4a |
melanops (SE QLD) |
Group having an argument | © ART | |
| blfcshr_20200919_3.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
? + departure | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20201227.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (juvenile) | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20201227_2.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (juvenile), parent responding, feeding | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20201231.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
? (juvenile), (+ Singing Honeyeater) | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20201231_2.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
? (juvenile), (+ Singing Honeyeater) | © MD | |
| blfcshr_20210127.m4a |
melanops (NW NSW) |
? | © MD |
More Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.