The grey cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris caesius ) is a species of bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. It is a medium-sized forest bird, with grey to blue-grey plumage and large black eyes. There are two subspecies that occur in forest patches of southern and central Africa respectively.
An insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Monogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
Flocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe grey cuckooshrike is a medium-sized bird; with a body length of 25–27 cm (10–10.5 in) and weighing between 53–68 g (1.9–2.4 oz). These birds exhibit sexual dimorphism. They both have a blue-grey head and body, with a large jet-black eye with a thin white eye-ring. Their bill and legs are black, and the males have a dark grey loreal patch, while females have grey loreal patches and are a slightly lighter shade of grey. The juveniles are a dark brown with grey-white barring above, white underparts with brown barring, and have black tails with white edges on the tips as well as on their flight feathers.
The preferred habitat of the grey cuckooshrike is Afromontane forests, lowland forests, coastal forests and dense woodland areas near rivers. They have also been observed foraging in pine and wattle plantations and trees in the trees of small towns in winter. They usually occur at elevations above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in West Africa and 1,500–3,000 metres (4,900–9,800 ft) in Central and East Africa, but also frequent coastal areas below 900 metres (3,000 ft) in East Africa. In Zimbabwe and South Africa they are found at 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or lower elevations.
They are largely resident species but do undertake post-breeding movementsa during the dry season. In the Cameroon, migration to lower elevations has been recorded after the breeding season. In South Africa, the birds migrate from forests in the Northern highveld to forests in the lowveld. They are frequent visitors to eastern and Western Cape coastal areas in the winter.
The grey cuckooshrike is somewhat inconspicuous, making observations about its behaviour challenging. They are usually observed alone or in pairs and less frequently in small groups of up to 7 individuals. During the non-breeding season they have been seen foraging in mixed species flocks. Their flight is described as "slow and level with heavy wing beats".
These are relatively quiet birds, their call is described as a faint, high-pitched "tseeeeep" while foraging and a "seeeeea" call at their nests. Other calls include a weaver-like chatter and sneeze-like "chi-ooo" sounds.
The grey cuckooshrike is insectivorous; feeding mostly on crickets, caterpillars and locusts. Spiders, winged termites and beetles also form a part of their diet. They forage in the upper forest canopy, looking for insects in the foliage and on tree trunks. They hop on branches and examine the underside of the leaves above for insects, when they see one they snatch the prey and return to their perch before eating it.
In Southern Africa, breeding occurs in the summer months between October and January, and nest building has been recorded as early as September in the most southern parts of South Africa. The central African subspecies breeds during the rainy season, but avoids the wettest periods.
Their nests are a shallow bowl shape and constructed by both sexes from Usnea lichen and spider webs, perched 17 to 20 meters up in trees on the forest edge. The clutch size is one or two eggs which are an oval shape and pale bluish-green with olive and brown spots. The chicks are black with grey down when they hatch, and remain in the nest until the following breeding season. Both the male and female incubate the eggs, but little else is known about the incubation or fledging periods. They are monogamous breeders and will stay in that pair until one dies; and the surviving individual will seek a new mate.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...