The black-bibbed cicadabird or black-bibbed cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. The species is elusive and poorly known. This species has five subspecies that differ considerably in plummage, it is possible that this may actually be a species complex and consists of multiple species.
Region
Philippines
Typical Environment
Occurs in primary and mature secondary lowland to lower montane forests, favoring the canopy and subcanopy. It is recorded on multiple Philippine islands, where it keeps to interior forest, forest edges, and ridgelines. The species tolerates some forest degradation but remains most frequent in well-forested tracts. It is seldom seen in open country and tends to avoid heavily urbanized areas.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the black-bibbed cuckooshrike, this elusive canopy-dweller is endemic to the Philippines. Males show a distinctive dark throat bib, while females and juveniles are duller and may lack a clear bib. Several markedly different subspecies occur on separate islands, and the taxon may represent a species complex. It forages quietly high in the forest, often going unnoticed except for its thin, cicada-like calls.
A male ssp. mindanense
Temperament
quiet, unobtrusive, and often secretive
Flight Pattern
short, direct flights between canopy perches; strong but not showy flier
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Breeding behavior is poorly documented, but like other cuckooshrikes it likely builds a small cup nest high in a tree. Pairs maintain loose territories and communicate with soft contact notes.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, piping whistles and dry, buzzy notes that evoke cicada calls. Vocalizations are soft and easily missed, often delivered from concealed perches high in the canopy.
Plumage
Male with pale to mid-grey upperparts and a sharply defined black throat bib extending onto the upper breast; underparts otherwise pale grey to whitish. Female is duller grey-brown above, paler below, with a reduced or diffuse bib and faint barring or mottling on the underparts. Both sexes have smooth, compact plumage suited for canopy life.
Diet
Primarily hunts insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. It occasionally hawks for flying insects from a perch. Small amounts of fruit may be taken opportunistically, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mainly in the upper midstory to canopy of mature forest, along edges, and in semi-open forest gaps. Often forages methodically from shaded perches, making short sallies or careful leaf-gleaning movements.
