Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
Campephaga phoenicea
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea) is a member of the Campephagidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.1 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 Campephaga
- Species phoenicea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.1 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 Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea) is a member of the Campephagidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Sierra Leone, e to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.1 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 8.6 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 4.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is a small bird that weighs around 27.1 g.
Where does the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike live?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Sierra Leone, e to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike belong to?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea) belongs to the Campephagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike eat?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike migrate?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-shouldered 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.
How large is the Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike's range?
The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike has a mapped global range of about 4.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Campephagidae
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.