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Ground Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina maxima) Alternate name(s): "Ground Jay", "Long-tailed Jay" Aboriginal name(s): "kooraling" (WA) Size: 33-38 cm; wing span: ca. 50-55 cm Body mass: 125-155 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.22-0.40

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are the largest of the Australian cuckoo-shrikes. Apart from black lores and ear coverts, the head, throat, chest and mantle are all grey. The lower chest and belly, as well as the rump, are off-white, with thin dark-grey barring. The wings and the uppertail are black, with very thin white edge lining on the flight feathers. The tail is slightly forked. The eyes have conspicuous yellow irises. The long, straight bill, the legs and feet are all dark-grey. Immature Ground Cuckoo-shrikes still retain rufous edges on their wing feathers. Juveniles have dark irises and are barred on the head, as well as the rest of body. Their wings and tail feathers have broad rufous edges. They have a small dark facial mask comprising the lores and a small area around the eyes.

Taxonomy, classification See Ground Cuckoo-shrike at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Ground Cuckoo-shrike is available HERE . NB: Reports on ebird of birds submitted by birdwatchers from the Australian Outback tend to be clustered along roads and public areas such as camp grounds; in such cases their distribution is not a good representation of the overall distribution of the species. Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are endemic to Australia. They are found over large parts of the Australian inland, with the exception of the Pilbara region in WA and the Nullarbor in SA. They avoid the entire far tropical North of the continent, northward of a line connecting Broome, WA, with Cairns, QLD. Except for the QLD East coast and the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria the are normally not found on the coastline either. They only rarely enter the Lake Eyre Basin and the hill range of estern central QLD. Ground Cuckoo-shrikes have a preference for sparsely vegetated semi-arid country, where they hunt out in the open on the ground, e.g. in open grassland, paddocks or in slashed vegetation by the sides of roads. Where to look? How to find this species? Their roaming, vagrant habits make Ground Cuckoo-shrikes hard to find because their patterns of movement are unpredictable. But once they stay in an area for a while, e.g. while breeding, the small family clans are usually easy to find because they will be almost continuously calling out to each other, either in the air, when perched, or while foraging on the ground in a style very similar to that of a family clan of White-winged Choughs, only in more open country with sparser growth. Twitcher's tip As their scientific name already suggests, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are the largest species of Australian cuckoo-shrikes.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We first spotted Ground Cuckoo-shrikes 20 km South-West of Narrabri, NSW, in May 2006. Four Ground Cuckoo-shrikes stayed in roadside casuarina trees, huddling up to each other when not flying around, and exchanging calls continually. They were easily approachable, at least as long as they were up in the trees. Seen in one location one day and 4 km further 2 days later. A few Ground Cuckoo-shrikes were also seen by us in July 2007, 10 km West of Narrabri. Next, the species was sighted at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, in May 2008, where a family of 5 was foraging in a paddock. Since then they are found by us in the area occasionally, sometimes for extended periods of time. A clan of usually 4-5 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes was observed repeatedly at Eulah Creek in the timeframe February - July 2014. A family of 6 were observed at the same location on an almost daily basis in the timeframe April 2015 to January 2016. Up to 7 and even 9 birds in one clan were seen in October/November 2016, at the start of the breeding season. In November 2016 they were observed selecting a site for their nest. They are usually found at the same location on individual visits or for days or weeks at a time, but they tend to wander off regularly, for up to weeks, even months, at a time. Times when they are NOT around are usually the breeding season of the local Australian Magpies. Until April 2020 they were seen semi-regularly; since then there have only been birds flying over in April 2021 and in April/May 2022. A small group was also spotted near Wee Waa, NSW, in September 2012, and two birds between Pilliga and Burren Junction, NSW, in May 2018. Two Ground Cuckoo-shrikes were spotted feeding in slashed grass and reeds in a dry creek bed on a broadacre farm 5 km South-East of Bellata, NSW, in May 2013. When disturbed, both birds moved on to fallow fields. M. Windeyer reports finding Ground Cuckoo-shrikes in a fallow paddock on the outskirts of Gilgandra, NSW, in 2019 and again in July 2020. M. Eaton found a family of 6 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes along the Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, in April 2021. Together with V. Collins we found a family clan of 6 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes along Grain Valley Road, 10 km South of Boggabri, NSW, in June 2021.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike perched in a eucalypt; when perched in trees, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes have a strong preference for sitting on dead branches
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike stretching one of its wings, thereby showing its underwing pattern, and fanning its tail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Frontal/ventral view of three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes huddling in a Casuarina
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2007]

Now only two remain...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2007]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike issuing its call
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a "sentry" Ground Cuckoo-shrike on a fence, calling
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike on a paddock issuing a call
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Lateral/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike perched high up in a eucalypt
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike; note the characteristic bifurcated tail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike; note the characteristic bifurcated tail (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike crossing a road (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Boggabri, NSW, June 2021]

Dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways, with its inner eyelid closed (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike on a paddock looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Frontal/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

One of four (of a group of five) Ground Cuckoo-shrikes in flight; click on image to see four birds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike just after take-off
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike; based on the inconspicuous facial mask, this is probably an immature bird; it is heard most prominently in the sound recording obtained on 2 March 2016
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2016]

Close-up frontal view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways; based on the inconspicuous facial mask, this is probably an immature bird; it is heard most prominently in the sound recording obtained on 2 March 2016
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2016]

Near-frontal/ventral view of an immature Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Near-lateral/ventral view of an immature Ground Cuckoo-shrike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Near-lateral/ventral view of two immature Ground Cuckoo-shrikes; these birds, although they have immature plumage (rather than juvenile), were still begging their parents for food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult Ground Cuckoo-shrike, top, with an immature bird, bottom; note the darker irises and the less pronounced facial mask of the immature bird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Adult, back, and near-dorsal view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Ground Cuckoo-shrike looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Connolly Dam Road, Warwick, QLD, April 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Feb

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: ca. 25? days

Fledging age: ca. 28? days

Like some other bird species, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are known to use helpers, possibly last season's offspring, when feeding their young.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female, male & helpers

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Root fibres, grass stems, bark fibre, webs; fur and wool lining

Height above ground: 2 - 25 m

Ground Cuckoo-shrike nests are larger and more obvious than the nests of other species of cuckoo-shrikes.

Pair of Ground Cuckoo-shrikes on a thick fork in a rough-barked Acacia salicina tree checking out its suitability for a nest site; 3 helpers, who had arrived with them remained in the background
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Lateral view of a female(?) Ground Cuckoo-shrike "test-sitting" the nest site
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Lateral view of a female(?) Ground Cuckoo-shrike getting up from the nest site, which was probably "proposed" by the male(?) on the left
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

This is the fork the Ground Cuckoo-shrikes were testing
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 34 x 24 mm

Colour: Olive-brown, with brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Nomadic

Elementary unit: Family clan

Ground Cuckoo-shrikes usually come in pairs or family clans. They spend a large amount of time walking on the ground foraging, preferably in sparse low vegetation (such as grass stubble), where they have a good view of their surroundings. When perched in trees, like many other species, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes have a strong preference for dead branches.

Distant view of an aerial combat between two Ground Cuckoo-shrikes - one was eventually chased away by the other
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2018]

Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are vociferous birds that like to always keep in contact with their mates by frequently calling (cf. recordings below).

After a successful breeding season Ground Cuckoo-shrikes usually come in small family groups of up to about 6-8 birds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Family of 5 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes on a levee, from where they also went to forage in the grass of a paddock
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2015]

Lateral/ventral view of a family of four Ground Cuckoo-shrikes huddling in a Casuarina
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2007]

We have observed a pair of Ground Cuckoo-shrikes hiding in the shade of tree trunks to avoid detection by a family of local Australian Magpies. When/if detected, they split up, only to come together again later and start hiding again. If/when undetected, they started foraging on the ground.

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike deployed as a "sentry", while the rest of the clan is foraging on the ground; this one has chosen a picket as its vantage point, from where it called out to the others on the ground frequently and vociferously
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2015]

Food, Diet

Like all members of the Coracina family known to us, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes hunt small animals, up to the size of a Praying Mantis or a centipede, from low perches.

Ground Cuckoo-shrikes foraging in fringe growth by the side of a road; the one in front is just gobbling up a morsel of food (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Boggabri, NSW, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike on a paddock with its prey, probably a dried-up dead worm
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes foraging on a paddock; note the bird on the left, which was observed twice spreading its wings, as if to stun its prey in a way similar to a Black-necked Stork
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2018]

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.

grcuck_20170805.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (pair in-flight)	© MD
grcuck_20160128.mp3	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (clan in-flight)	© MD
grcuck_20160123_6.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
grcuck_20160123_7.mp3	(NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
grcuck_20150417_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Q&A	© MD
grcuck_20151205.mp3	(NW NSW)	Sentry's calls	© MD
grcuck_20150417.mp3	(NW NSW)	Warning/departure	© MD
grcuck_20150816.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various (family clan)	© MD
grcuck_20160302.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various (family of 4)	© MD
grcuck_20160123_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
grcuck_20160820.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
grcuck_20160123_4.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
grcuck_20160123.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
grcuck_20160123_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	?	© MD
grcuck_20160123_5.mp3	(NW NSW)	?	© MD
grcuck_20160123_8.m4a	(NW NSW)	?	© MD

More Ground Cuckoo-shrike sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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