The central Melanesian cicadabird is a passerine bird in the family Campephagidae that is found on the islands of Tabar, Lihir as well as the islands in the Solomon Islands archipelago.
Region
Melanesia (Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago)
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and hill forests across islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago and nearby Bismarck outliers including Tabar and Lihir. It frequents primary and secondary rainforest, forest edges, and wooded gardens. The species typically forages in the mid to upper canopy but may descend to lower strata along edges and clearings. It tolerates some habitat modification and can persist in selectively logged forests, though it remains most common in intact woodlands.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A member of the cuckooshrike family (Campephagidae), the central Melanesian cicadabird is named for its buzzing, cicada-like calls. It inhabits islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago and adjacent Bismarck outliers such as Tabar and Lihir. The species has sometimes been treated as part of a wider cicadabird complex and has a history of placement in the genera Coracina and Edolisoma. Males and females differ subtly in plumage, with females typically browner and more patterned.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, purposeful flights between canopy perches
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Pairs maintain territories and build a small, tidy cup nest placed high in trees. Both sexes are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives harsh, buzzing notes and metallic calls reminiscent of cicadas, interspersed with clear whistles. Vocalizations carry through the canopy and are often the best clue to its presence.
Plumage
Males are mostly grey with a darker cap and cleaner, paler underparts; females are browner-grey with fine barring or streaking below. Both sexes have smooth, sleek plumage suited to canopy foraging.
Diet
Primarily hunts insects, including cicadas, caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods. It gleans prey from foliage and branches and will sally from perches to catch flying insects. Occasional small fruits may be taken, but animal prey dominates the diet.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the mid to upper canopy of rainforest, as well as along forest edges and in semi-open secondary growth. It often forages methodically along branches and among leaves.
