Coracina papuensis

White-bellied Cuckooshrike at Quaama, NSW

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Identification history

Coracina novaehollandiae

22 Dec 2019

FionaG

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User's notes

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Juvenile Male?

5 comments

MaxCampbell wrote:

22 Dec 2019

Hi Fiona, I'm not very confident on this as the bird has idiosyncratic looking markings. I don't think it can be a black-faced as the black mask does not extend back behind the eye. I think it might be a White-bellied cuckoo-shrike ssp robusta intermediate between light and dark morph. The Australian Bird Guide (Menkhorst et al) says "Many intermediates occur." I'd like to see what the other moderators think.

FionaG wrote:

22 Dec 2019

Thank you Max. I wasn't certain either. I thought it interesting that the dark shadings differ on the side of the face as well as the crescent on the chest. That is what led me to think it was a male juvenile in the middle of getting his colouring.

HarveyPerkins wrote:

23 Dec 2019

I'd agree with papuensis. The lack of post-ocular mask pretty much clinches it, despite a rather odd mix of other markings.

HarveyPerkins wrote:

23 Dec 2019

Don't suppose you heard it call?

FionaG wrote:

23 Dec 2019

Unfortunately, no. There were two, the second I only caught a glimpse in flight but neither made a call.

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