Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Cuckooshrike
Lalage melanoptera
Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) is a member of the Campephagidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 29.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Campephagidae Cuckooshrikes
- Genus Lalage
- Species melanoptera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Campephagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India and Sri Lanka.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.4 g, with a wing length of about 10 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 994,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is a small bird that weighs around 29.4 g.
Where does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike live?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India and Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike belong to?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) belongs to the Campephagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike eat?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike migrate?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Cuckooshrike can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike's range?
The Black-headed Cuckooshrike has a mapped global range of about 994,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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