Black Cuckooshrike

The black cuckooshrike, known scientifically as Campephaga flava, is a striking bird belonging to the cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males and females sporting different plumages.

Identification Tips

Males are predominantly black with a glossy sheen, while females are more subdued in color, with greyish tones and less luster. Observers should note the sleek body, long tail, and strong bill characteristic of this species.

Habitat

The black cuckooshrike is an inhabitant of a variety of environments, including subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savannas, and subtropical or tropical dry shrublands.

Distribution

This bird has a broad range across the African continent, being found in nations such as Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the black cuckooshrike as Least Concern, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers that would warrant a more dire conservation status.