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Reunion Cuckooshrike - BirdForum Opus

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Lalage newtoni

Coracina newtoni

Identification

22cm.

Male

  • Ashy-grey upperparts, paler on rump and uppertail-coverts
  • Blackish spot in front of eye
  • Dull ash-grey ear-coverts and face side spotted white below eye
  • Black upperwings
  • Narrow grey margins on wing-coverts
  • Black tail white tipped
  • Greyish-white chin and upper throat
  • Pale grey underparts, central belly white
  • White undertail-coverts and underwing-coverts
  • Brown eye
  • Blackish or bluish bill and legs

Female

  • Narrow white eyebrow
  • Dark rusty-brown upperparts, paler on head side, faintly barred dusky on rump and uppertail-coverts
  • Dark brown upperwing-coverts
  • Whitish underparts finely barred dull blackish
  • Washed fulvous breast and flanks

Juveniles are similar to females.

Distribution

Endemic to Réunion, Indian Ocean.
An endangered restricted-range species. Breeding population in 2000 estimated at 60 - 160 pairs.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Forms a superspecies with Mauritius Cuckoo-shrike.
Formerly placed in the genus Coracina.

Habitat

Mountainous rainforest. Occurs at 1150 - 1850m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects, some fruits also taken.
Main food formerly palm beetles but these are now extinct.
Forages mainly in trees.

Breeding

Breeding season from September to February. A monogamous species. The nest is placed in a fork near the top of a tree, 4 to 17m above the ground. Lays 2-3 eggs.

Movements

A resident species.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2005. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334726
  3. Avibase

Recommended Citation

External Links

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