Black-winged Cuckooshrike

The Black-winged cuckooshrike, known scientifically as Lalage melaschistos, presents itself as a medium-sized bird with a robust build. This species, also referred to as the lesser grey cuckooshrike or dark grey cuckooshrike, boasts a distinctive plumage characterized by grey upper parts, stark black wings, and a white vent. The tail is graduated and tipped with white, while the bill and legs are a deep black. Notably, the females exhibit a lighter overall coloration across all taxa.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Black-winged cuckooshrike, look for the male's dark grey upper body contrasted sharply with black wings and tail. The underside of the tail features broad white tips. Females can be recognized by their paler appearance and faint barring on the underside. Both sexes have broad-based bills, aiding in their identification.

Habitat

During the breeding season, this species prefers deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen forests. In the winter months, they can be found in more open forests, groves, and are often observed either singly or in pairs.

Distribution

The Black-winged cuckooshrike breeds in the summer at elevations ranging from 300 to 2450 meters in the mountains. Their range extends from Northeast Pakistan through the lower Himalayan region, including Uttarakhand, Nepal, Arunachal Pradesh, and into the hills of Northeast Myanmar, continuing to China and Southeast Asia. In winter, they migrate altitudinally or southward to the foothills and may travel as far as Kerala in the south or east to Orissa, Bengal, and Bangladesh.

Behaviour

This species is known to join mixed feeding parties, indicating a level of sociability during foraging. They exhibit altitudinal or southward migration patterns in response to the changing seasons.

Song & Calls

The call of the Black-winged cuckooshrike is a loud "twit twit to we," which descends in scale, providing a distinctive auditory clue for birdwatchers.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Black-winged cuckooshrike is primarily composed of invertebrates, with a particular preference for caterpillars, beetles, and other bugs.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Black-winged cuckooshrike as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population levels that would warrant a higher degree of conservation action.