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Black Cuckooshrike | Campephaga flava
The Black Cuckooshrike is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Campephagidae bird family group which includes birds such as Cuckooshrikes. The description for the Black Cuckooshrike (Latin name Campephaga flava) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Campephaga flava can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 538 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 733. You will find a picture of the Black Cuckooshrike on page 705. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Black Cuckooshrike between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Black Cuckooshrike is known in Afrikaans as Swartkatakoeroe. The Black Cuckooshrike has a height of 22 cms and weighs around 32 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Campephaga flava has a black coloured throat, black legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are brown. The male Campephaga flava has physical features that are slightly different from the female bird. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is black Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are black Throat is black Back is black Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the tree trunk The Black Cuckooshrike is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Black Cuckooshrike is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 1 to 3 eggs and they are coloured green. The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae. The Black Cuckooshrike is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks |
