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White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis) Alternate name(s): "Papuan Cuckoo-shrike", "Little Cuckoo-shrike", "Swainson's Cuckoo-shrike", "White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike" Aboriginal name(s): Race "artamoides": "bagawang" [bundjalung] Size: 22-29 cm; wing span: 40-48 cm Body mass: 55-80 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.25-0.32

Australia: Family Group 22 Family Group 22 Table White-winged Triller Varied Triller Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Barred Cuckoo-shrike Ground Cuckoo-shrike Sahul Cicadabird (Australasian) Yellow Oriole Olive-backed Oriole Australasian Figbird White-breasted Woodswallow Masked Woodswallow White-browed Woodswallow Black-faced Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Little Woodswallow Black Butcherbird Grey Butcherbird Silver-backed Butcherbird Black-backed Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Black Currawong Grey Currawong Pied Currawong Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes are medium-sized cuckoo-shrikes. They have a small black facial mask encompassing only the lores and lower frons, with a narrow arc extending under each eye. The entire front, from throat to undertail coverts, is light-grey to off-white. The back, from the crown to the rump, is grey. The tail and the flight feathers are darker grey, with some white edge lining on the flight feathers. Race "robusta" has a dark morphology, with a dark-grey head and a heavily scalloped light and dark grey throat and chest. The eyes have black irises. The strong bill is dark-grey; the legs and feet are grey. The differences between the two sexes are small, which makes them hard to distinguish in the field. Females of all races tend to have greyer lores than males, whose lores are black, and possibly some light barring of the front (throat, chest). Juveniles have a slightly scalloped off-white front and brownish-grey back, with darker grey flight feathers. Only the lores are black.

Taxonomy, classification See White-bellied 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 White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike is available HERE . The range of the White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike extends from West Papua (eastern Indonesia) via New Guinea to the Solomon Islands and southward to Australia. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes inhabit the northern and eastern parts of the Australian continent, from the Kimberley via the northern half of the NT, along the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, all through Cape York peninsula, to the eastern half of QLD, NSW and parts of VIC. There are five races in total. Nominate race "robusta" is found roughly in the eastern half of NSW and some parts of VIC. Race "artamoides" resides in the eastern half of QLD, except Cape York peninsula. (In PNG) and on Cape York peninsula, down to about Townsville, QLD, race "oriomo" is found. Westward of about Mt. Isa, QLD, along the tropical North up to the Kimberley, WA, one finds race "hypoleuca". Race "apsleyi" is endemic to Melville and Bathurst Islands off Darwin, NT. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes have a preference for forested habitats and woodland, which nowadays makes them most common in the hills and mountain ranges of eastern Australia. Where to look? How to find this species? In our experience, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes do not like entering open country, including places near human habitation. One needs to go to wooded country and even then they can be hard to find, staying in the crowns of trees most of the time. Those familiar with Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes can listen for a similar, but higher-pitched, more screechy calls from above to alert them to the presence of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "robusta" Narrabri is located in an overlap region between two different races of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, "robusta" and "artamoides". A White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "robusta", was seen by us at Yarrie Lake, 30 km West of Narrabri, NSW, in September 2012. A White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "robusta", was spotted by us in the Pilliga scrub, 30 km North of Coonabarabran, NSW, in October 2015. M. Windeyer reports spotting a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "robusta", at Eumungerie, between Dubbo and Gilgandra, NSW, in November 2016. Race "artamoides" Narrabri is located in an overlap region between two different races of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, "robusta" and "artamoides". A White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "artamoides", came to our former place, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, on an extremely hot day in January 2006. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "artamoides", are also spotted by us repeatedly in various parts of the Pilliga scrub, in Deriah Aboriginal Area, in Mt. Kaputar NP and also North-West of Moree, NSW. Race "artamoides" was found by us also on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008, as far West as about Bourke, NSW. M. Windeyer reports spotting a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "artamoides", in Warrumbungle NP in April 2016. E. Scott reports spotting a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "artamoides", at Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, in December 2016. Together with V. Collins, we found White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "artamoides", in Mt. Kaputer NP, NSW, in July 2020. Race "hypoleuca" Several contributors and ourselves find White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "hypoleuca", semi-regularly in and around Darwin, NT, and in other locations around the Top End of the NT. C. Pears reports spotting a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "hypoleuca", at Cable Beach, Broome, WA, in June 2026. Race "apsleyi" J. Greaves reports spotting White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "apsleyi", on Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT, in September 2016. Race "oriomo" M. Eaton reports spotting a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "oriomo", in Cairns, QLD, in July 2018, and in various locations on Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019. Another was found at Julatten, QLD, in June 2024. B. Hensen reports finding a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, race "oriomo", at Iron Range NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in December 2018. A. Ross-Taylor spotted White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "oriomo", at Port Douglas, QLD, in May 2022. C. Linfoot found White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, race "oriomo", at Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, in November 2022, and again in August 2025.

Photos

Race "robusta"

Dark morphology

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike checking out the photographer
[Pilliga scrub, near Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Lateral view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
[Pilliga scrub, near Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]

Near-frontal view of a female(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a female(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking backwards
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of an immature White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike that is starting to moult into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]

Race "artamoides"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the black lores and the white arch behind the eye
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, near Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Warrumbungle NP, NSW, April 2016]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking towards the observer
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking towards the observer
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Close-up lateral view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Dorsal view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Dorsal/ventral view of a male(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Race "hypoleuca"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the black lores (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2013]

Lateral/ventral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston, NT, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the grey lores (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Frontal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Lateral view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the grey, rather than black, lores
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Dorsal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Race "apsleyi"

ADULT

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the grey lores (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT, September 2016]

Race "oriomo"

ADULT

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the black lore and the white back of the eye-ring
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike launching itself upwards (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, August 2025]

Lateral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Iron Range NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Jardine River, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Dorsal view of a male White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Iron Range NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, December 2018]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the grey lore and the grey back of the eye-ring
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Musgrave Roadhouse, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female(?) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike; note the grey back of the eye-ring (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Dorsal view of a female White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Dorsal view of an immature White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike looking sideways; note the white-fringed flight feathers
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 21 - 22 days

Fledging age: ca. 21 days

The breeding season of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes depends on geographic latitude. The period listed in the table above applies mostly to the SE of the continent. Given the right conditions, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes can breed from about June to March.

Nest building: Male & female

Incubation: Male & female

Dependent care: Male & female

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Bark strips, straw, bound with spider webs

Height above ground: 6 - 10 m

Nests of White-bellied 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).

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike on its nest in an eucalypt tree; this nest was found to be close to a Magpie-lark's
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, November 2017]

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike on its nest, now seen at a different angle (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, November 2017]

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike on its nest; note how the bird is much bigger than the nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2020]

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike nest in a casuarina (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Warrumbungle NP, near Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2017]

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike nest seen at a different angle, now with both owners in attendance (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Warrumbungle NP, near Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2017]

Eggs

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

Size: 30 x 22 mm

Colour: Grey, with darker brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Locally nomadic

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan

Food, Diet

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

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike with its (unidentified) prey
[Timmallallie NP, Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2017]

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.

whbcshr_20151003.mp3	robusta (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
whbcshr_20181112_4.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Contact call (male)	© MD
whbcshr_20181112_5.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Contact call (male)	© MD
whbcshr_20151021_2.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Contact call & departure	© MD
whbcshr_20200719.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Warning/departure (pair?)	© MD
whbcshr_20151021.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Interacting	© MD
whbcshr_20200719_2.m4a	artamoides (NW NSW)	Various (+ Fuscous Honeyeater)	© MD
whbcshr_pb_20180619.m4a	hypoleuca (Top End, NT)	Contact call	© PB
whbcshr_pb_20190709.m4a	hypoleuca (Top End, NT)	Contact call	© PB
whbcshr_cp_20260613.m4a	hypoleuca (N WA)	Contact call	© CP
whbcshr_pb_20230521.mp3	hypoleuca (Top End, NT)	Contact call (adult) + begging calls (immature)	© PB

More White-bellied 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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