The Sulawesi cicadabird is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The species is placed in the reinstated genus Edolisoma by some authors and the nominate subspecies E. morio morio was suggested to be part of the Edolisoma tenuirostre complex in a molecular phylogenetic study by Pedersen et al. (2018). The species was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Sangihe cicadabird.
Region
Sulawesi and satellite islands (Wallacea)
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout suitable forested habitats on Sulawesi and nearby islets. It uses primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest, as well as montane forest and forest edges. The species forages mainly in the mid-story to canopy, occasionally descending to edges and clearings. It tolerates some habitat disturbance where tall trees remain but is most frequent in intact forest. In landscapes with fragmentation, it may persist along riparian corridors and ridgelines with continuous cover.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to Sulawesi, this cicadabird spends much of its time high in the forest canopy, where its buzzy, cicada-like calls can carry over long distances. Some authorities place it in the genus Edolisoma, and molecular studies suggest close affinity to the Edolisoma tenuirostre complex. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the Sangihe cicadabird. Its inconspicuous behavior makes it more often heard than seen.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, purposeful flights between canopy perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Breeding pairs defend small territories and build a neat cup nest placed on a horizontal fork high in a tree. Both parents are thought to share incubation and feeding duties. Displays are understated, with vocal communication playing a key role in pair cohesion.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of buzzy, cicada-like trills and harsh, nasal notes delivered from concealed canopy perches. Calls may accelerate or descend slightly in pitch, often repeated at intervals. The voice carries well through dense foliage, aiding contact between mates.
Plumage
Male is dark slaty to sooty with smooth, uniform plumage; female is greyer-brown above with paler underparts that can show faint mottling or barring. Both sexes have a sleek, cuckooshrike-like silhouette with a slightly hooked bill and relatively long tail. Feathers appear smooth and non-glossy, with minimal wing markings.
Diet
Primarily hunts large insects such as cicadas, beetles, and caterpillars, gleaned from leaves and branches or snatched in short sallies. It also takes other arthropods, including orthopterans and spiders, when available. Occasional small fruits may be consumed, but animal prey dominates the diet. Foraging is deliberate, with frequent pauses to scan before quick, precise strikes.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the mid to upper canopy of primary and mature secondary forest. It often works along edges, ridgelines, and tall trees in semi-open forest where prey is abundant. In disturbed areas it concentrates on remnant tall trees and riparian strips that maintain canopy structure.
