The Malayan cuckooshrike is a passerine bird in the family Campephagidae that is found on the Malay Peninsula. The species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the large cuckooshrike, now renamed the Indian cuckooshrike.
Region
Malay Peninsula
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and hill dipterocarp forests, forest edges, and mature secondary growth. It forages from the midstory to the canopy, sometimes descending to edges and along quiet forest tracks. The species tolerates lightly disturbed habitats and occasionally uses wooded plantations and well-vegetated parks near forest. It is generally local but may be overlooked due to its quiet habits.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Malayan cuckooshrike is a medium-sized member of the Campephagidae found primarily on the Malay Peninsula, where it forages quietly in the mid- to upper canopy. It was formerly treated as part of the 'large cuckooshrike' complex before taxonomic splits recognized the Indian cuckooshrike and several Southeast Asian relatives. It is typically unobtrusive and often detected by its mellow whistles and harsh 'chak' notes. The species helps control foliage-feeding insects, especially caterpillars, in forest habitats.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with steady, direct flight between canopy perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Pairs maintain small territories and nest high in trees in a shallow cup of twigs and fibers. It sometimes joins mixed-species flocks moving through the canopy.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives soft, mellow whistles interspersed with harsher 'chak' and 'chek' calls. Vocalizations are not loud; songs are brief and often delivered from within the canopy.
