Fun Large Cuckooshrike Facts For Kids
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The large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei), also called the Indian cuckoo shrike, is a cuckooshrike species of the Campephagidae and Passeriformes order. This bird can be spotted flying around the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Hainan, Laos, Vietnam, and the Malay Peninsula.
Their previous scientific name is Graucalus macei. There are several subspecies recognized such as the Coracina macei nipalensis, Coracina macei andamana, Coracina macei larvivora, Coracina macei siamensis, Coracina macei larutensis, and Coracina macei rexpineti.
However, classifications of species and subspecies vary across sources and are yet to be resolved. Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French ornithologist, introduced the Coracina genus in 1816.
Jean Cabanis, a German ornithologist, later designated white-bellied cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis) as type species in 1850-1851. The term Coracina is a derivation of the Ancient Greek term, 'korakinos', meaning 'little raven'. There are 22 species in this genus.
The family, Campephagidae, consists of 93 small-medium bird species within 11 genera. Cuckooshrike birds do not have a close relationship with either shrikes or cuckoos.
A 2010 study on molecular phylogenetics on this family showed that the Coracina genus is non-monophyletic, which moved many species of this genus to the Edolisom genus. The large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) species is mostly gray and black-colored.
If you found these about Indian cuckooshrike facts fun, then you should check out our articles about the cockatoo and Amazon parrot on Kidadl.
Large Cuckooshrike Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a large cuckooshrike?
The large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) with the previous scientific name is Graucalus macei (Lesson, 1831) is a cuckooshrike of the order Passeriformes and phylum Chordata. After landing from a flight, the adult bird has a habit of shrugging or flicking the closed wings one after another.
The Coracina macei nipalensis and Coracina macei larutensis subspecies are treated as one of the subspecies related to C. javensis.
What class of animal does a large cuckooshrike belong to?
The large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) or Indian cuckooshrike belongs to the class Aves of animals.
How many large cuckooshrikes are there in the world?
The exact population number of the Indian cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) in the world is not known.
Where does a large cuckooshrike live?
Indian cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) subspecies occupy a wide range like India, the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Hainan, Laos, Vietnam, and Malay peninsula. The subspecies of Coracina macei are found in the following locations:
The Coracina macei macei subspecies (Lesson, R, 1831) is found in peninsular India. The Coracina macei nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) is found in the Himalayas.
The Coracina macei andamana (Neumann, 1915) can be spotted in the Andaman Islands. The Coracina macei layardi (Blyth, 1866) occupies Sri Lanka and the Coracina macei larvivora (Hartert, 1910) occupies Hainan. off China.
The Coracina macei rexpineti (Swinhoe, 1863) occupies southeastern China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Laos. The Coracina macei larutensis (Sharpe, 1887) belongs to the Malay Peninsula and the Coracina macei siamensis (Baker, ECS, 1918) habitat range extends from Myanmar and southern China through southern Indochina.
What is a large cuckooshrike's habitat?
The large cuckooshrike range of habitat extends to the forest region. They mostly occupy deciduous forest and evergreen forest region and well-wooded region in cities. They commonly fly over the forest canopy.
Who do large cuckooshrikes live with?
The large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) lives in flocks or pairs. They normally take flight in large groups.
How long does a large cuckooshrike live?
The lifespan of the large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) is not yet known.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season of the Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) takes place in the dry months of winter. This bird species builds a shallow saucer nest that is placed in the fork of a horizontal branch above the ground.
This nest is made of grass and twigs on the inside and cobwebs with little lining on the outside.
The usual clutch size in the breeding season is three eggs in peninsular India and two eggs near Bengal, India. The large cuckooshrike male forms a pair bond with the large cuckooshrike female throughout breeding and after breeding.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) bird is Least Concern.
Large Cuckooshrike Fun Facts
What do large cuckooshrikes look like?
Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) or Graucalus macei (Lesson, 1831) of the order Passeriformes are not closely related to either shrikes or the cuckoo bird species. This bird species is given the name because of their large, gray cuckooshrike appearance and description.
However, some do have similar undulating flight like the cuckoo. Adult male birds have a well-marked and broad eye stripe that looks pale in adult female birds.
These male birds of India have gray breasts and throats with finely barred flanks and abdomen. Female birds have barring on their gray throat and breasts, which extends further down and the distinct white vent of the male birds is missing.
The large cuckooshrike feathers are stiff and erect on the rump and back like all other species and subspecies of cuckooshrikes around the world (C. m. nipalensis, C. m. larvivora, C. m. rexpineti, and C. m. andamana). There is not much information on the identification and description of the subspecies in China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Laos.
How cute are they?
Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) or Graucalus macei (Lesson, 1831) birds may be considered cute. The blue, black, and gray plumage gives the large cuckooshrike appearance a majestic look.
How do they communicate?
Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) birds communicate using a unique call and through body language. These birds of India or the Indian population's call is a 'klu-eep'.
How big is a large cuckooshrike?
The average Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) size range is 11 in (28 cm). The large cuckooshrike wingspan is not known. These birds are larger than shrikes and smaller than black cuckoos.
How fast can a large cuckooshrike fly?
The exact flight speed of Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé).
How much does a large cuckooshrike weigh?
The weight of Coracina macei (French name échenilleur de macé) is not known.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names given to a male and female large cuckooshrike birds.
What would you call a baby large cuckooshrike?
There are no specific names given to a large cuckooshrike baby.
What do they eat?
The Indian cuckooshrike's (Coracina macei) diet is mostly insectivorous. Their diet includes foods like insects, fruits, and figs.
Are they dangerous?
No, the large cuckooshrike (Coracina macei) bird species is not dangerous to human beings.
Would they make a good pet?
No, this Coracina macei bird species of the Campephagidae family would not make a good pet.
Did you know...
The large cuckooshrike name and all the other names given to this bird are inspired by their appearance and sizes.
There are many species of the Campephagidae family, order Passeriformes whose history of evolution, identification, description, taxonomy, and breeding information has not yet been recorded. Species that have been studied show a territorial behavior.
The monophyletic genus, Ceblepyris taxonomy, was created after the Coracina species proved to be non-monophyletic.
DNA studies of the Campephagidae family suggest that this species may be related to Old world orioles (Oriolidae).
The ground cuckooshrike (Coracina maxima) of the same genus as Indian cuckooshrike feeds on insects like locusts, grasshoppers, praying mantis, ants, and spiders. This bird spends time foraging on the ground for food in small groups.
They can quickly run on the ground using their long legs. The population of these birds is decreasing even though they are listed as Least Concern.
Do large cuckooshrikes migrate?
There is no information about the large cuckooshrike migration. The Coracina macei bird species is mostly territorial and these birds maintain these territories not only during the breeding seasons but throughout the year.
Is the large cuckooshrike endangered?
No, this Coracina macei bird species of India is currently not endangered.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these red-backed shrike facts and canyon wren facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Large cuckooshrike coloring pages.
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