Petit's cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Congo Basin to western East Africa
Typical Environment
It occurs from Nigeria and Cameroon through Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, south to northern Angola, and east to Uganda and western Kenya. The species inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland rainforest as well as moist montane forest and forest edges. It favors the mid-story to canopy, often along edges, clearings, and rivers within intact or mature secondary forest. It may also use gallery forests in otherwise more open landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Petit's cuckooshrike is a canopy-dwelling forest bird of Central Africa that often joins mixed-species flocks while foraging. Males and females are distinctly different in appearance, a common trait in cuckooshrikes. It feeds mainly on insects gleaned from foliage and small branches and can persist in lightly disturbed secondary forests.
Temperament
quiet and somewhat shy, canopy-oriented
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and often associates with mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy. Breeding pairs are territorial and place small cup nests high in trees. Both parents are believed to share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft and unobtrusive, including thin, high-pitched whistles and short, sibilant phrases. Calls may include sharp tsee or tsip notes given while foraging or keeping contact in the canopy.
Plumage
Male is largely dark slaty-grey to blackish with smooth, unbarred plumage; female is browner or grey-brown above with paler, lightly streaked or mottled underparts.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. It occasionally hawks small flying insects and may take small quantities of fruit when available. Foraging is methodical, moving branch to branch in the mid-story and canopy.
Preferred Environment
Most often forages in the mid to upper canopy of primary and mature secondary forest. It also uses forest edges, clearings, and gallery forest along rivers.
