Boyer's cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is widely spread across New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Region
New Guinea and adjacent islands
Typical Environment
Widely distributed across New Guinea’s lowland and foothill forests, including primary and secondary rainforest. It also uses swamp forest, riverine woodland, and mangrove edges, especially where tall trees provide canopy foraging. The species tolerates lightly disturbed habitats and forest edges. Usually found from the midstory to the upper canopy where it forages methodically among leaves and twigs.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite the name, cuckooshrikes are not true cuckoos; they are passerines in the family Campephagidae. Boyer's cuckooshrike is often unobtrusive and joins mixed-species flocks in the forest canopy. It helps control forest insect populations by eating caterpillars and other arthropods.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, level flight between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family parties, and frequently associates with mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Breeding pairs likely maintain small territories and build a small, neat cup nest high on a horizontal branch. Both parents are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft and simple, including mellow whistles and low churring notes. Calls are often given from within foliage and can be easily overlooked in ambient forest noise.
Plumage
Smooth, fairly uniform grey with darker wings and tail; underparts paler grey. Females and immatures often show faint barring or scalloping on the underparts.
Diet
Primarily takes insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and orthopterans gleaned from foliage and small branches. It may also hawk briefly for flying insects and occasionally consumes small fruits and berries. Foraging is methodical, moving steadily through the mid to upper canopy.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in forest midstory and canopy, along edges, river corridors, and mangrove margins. Often follows mixed-species flocks that flush prey from leaves and branches.
