The white-breasted cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and dry savanna. It is insectivorous.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occupies dry savannas and open woodlands, including acacia and miombo, as well as wooded edges and riparian corridors. It also uses secondary growth, forest margins, and occasionally plantations and large gardens with mature trees. Generally avoids dense closed-canopy rainforest and extremely arid treeless zones. Often perches conspicuously on upper branches before making short sallies to glean prey.
Altitude Range
0–2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite the name, cuckooshrikes are neither true cuckoos nor shrikes; they belong to the family Campephagidae. The white-breasted cuckooshrike often forages quietly in the mid to upper canopy, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Pairs or small family groups are typical, and they can be quite unobtrusive despite their contrasting plumage.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, purposeful flights between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks while foraging. Builds a small cup nest placed high on horizontal branches. Both sexes typically participate in nesting duties, including incubation and feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft, whistled phrases and subdued churring notes. Calls are often given from exposed perches and can be easily overlooked against ambient savanna sounds.
Plumage
Smooth grey upperparts with clean white breast and belly; darker grey to blackish wings and tail with pale edging. The appearance is crisp and contrasting, with minimal streaking.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and termites; will also take spiders and other arthropods. Forages by gleaning from foliage and branches, occasionally sallying out to snatch prey from the air. May take small berries opportunistically, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid to upper canopy of open woodland, savanna trees, and along forest edges. Frequently uses prominent perches to scan for prey before making short sallies to adjacent foliage.
