Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Black-headed Cuckooshrike

Lalage melanoptera (Rüppell, 1839)

29 gWeight

The black-headed cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) is a species of cuckooshrike found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Busiest months: February · Most records: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black-headed Cuckooshrike has been recorded at 196 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 5 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. GKVK CampusIndia1,040 records
  2. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural HistoryIndia975 records
  3. Valley SchoolIndia821 records
More places
  1. Thrissur Government Medical CollegeIndia398 records
  2. GKVK Campus – Botanical GardenIndia390 records
  3. Kerala Agricultural UniversityIndia362 records
  4. Kalamassery – HMT Estate AreaIndia342 records
  5. Rishi Valley – School CampusIndia336 records
  6. JaipurdoddiIndia305 records
  7. Bondla Wildlife SanctuaryIndia286 records

Countries and regions with the most records

IndiaSri LankaBangladeshNepalPakistan

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-headed cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera) is a species of cuckooshrike found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike?

The Black-headed Cuckooshrike weighs around 29 g.

Where does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: India and Sri Lanka. It is most often recorded in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

When is the best time to see the Black-headed Cuckooshrike?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-headed Cuckooshrike as Least Concern.

What does the Black-headed Cuckooshrike eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Black-headed Cuckooshrike in?

It belongs to the family Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
29 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
100 mm
Tail
72 mm
Bill
19 mm
Tarsus
21 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: India and Sri Lanka

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Cuckooshrikes Campephagidae
Genus
Lalage

Other birds in the genus Lalage

Polynesian TrillerPolynesian TrillerLalage maculosaSamoan TrillerSamoan TrillerLalage sharpeiWhite-shouldered TrillerWhite-shouldered TrillerLalage sueuriiLong-tailed TrillerLong-tailed TrillerLalage leucopygaWhite-winged TrillerWhite-winged TrillerLalage tricolorRufous-bellied TrillerRufous-bellied TrillerLalage aureaBlack-browed TrillerBlack-browed TrillerLalage atrovirensBiak TrillerBiak TrillerLalage leucopteraWhite-browed TrillerWhite-browed TrillerLalage moestaVaried TrillerVaried TrillerLalage leucomelaMussau TrillerMussau TrillerLalage conjunctaBlack-and-white TrillerBlack-and-white TrillerLalage melanoleuca
Black-headed Cuckooshrike

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Tom Heijnen. ↗

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