McGregor's cuckooshrike
McGregor's cuckooshrike | |
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Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Campephagidae |
Genus: | Malindangia Mearns, 1907 |
Species: | M. mcgregori
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Binomial name | |
Malindangia mcgregori Mearns, 1907
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Synonyms | |
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McGregor's cuckooshrike (Malindangia mcgregori) or the sharp-tailed cuckooshrike, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to Mindanao island on the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is declining due to habitat loss.
Description and taxonomy
[edit]EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of lower- and mid-elevation montane mossy forest on Mindanao, where it often joins mixed-species flocks. Gray on the crown, back, rump, and upper tail; black on the forehead, face, and chest plus some wing and tail feathers; and white on the belly and shoulder, plus a long mark down the wing and outer tail feathers. Black parts are slightly duller in the female. Unmistakable. Voice includes whining squeals and harsh screeches."[2]
This species was formerly placed in the genus Coracina. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010 found the genus Coracina was non-monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization to create monophyletic genera, McGregor's cuckooshrike is the only species placed in the resurrected genus Malindangia.[3][4]
Diet is unknown but presumed to feed on insects. Forages in groups in the cannopy typically in pairs or in mixed species flocks.[5]
Ecology and behavior
[edit]Its diet has not yet been recorded but it is presumed to feed on insects. Occurs singly, in small groups or with mixed-species flocks of other medium sized birds. It is often inconspicuous and quiet. Typically forages in the canopy.
Specimens collected of birds in breeding condition with enlarged gonads from April to June but recently fledged birds have also been seen in March. No other information is known about its mating, nesting and fledgeling habits.[6]
Habitat and conservation status
[edit]The species inhabits tropical montane forewst above 1,000 meters above sea level. The IUCN has classified the species as least Concern but was formerly listed as near threatened. Despite its limited range, it is said to be locally common. As it occurs in rugged and inaccessible mountains, this has allowed a large portion of its habitat to remain intact. However, there it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn - just not to the same extent as lowland forest. Due to these continuing threats, population is still decreasing.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Malindangia mcgregori". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22706626A118480538. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22706626A118480538.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ "McGregor's Cuckooshrike - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ Jønsson, K.A.; Bowie, R.C.K.; Nylander, J.A.A.; Christidis, L.; Norman, J.A.; Fjeldså, J. (2010). "Biogeographical history of cuckoo-shrikes (Aves: Passeriformes): transoceanic colonization of Africa from Australo-Papua". Journal of Biogeography. 37 (9): 1767–1781. Bibcode:2010JBiog..37.1767J. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02328.x. S2CID 52105369.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Bristlehead, butcherbirds, woodswallows, ioras, cuckooshrikes, Shriketit". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ^ IUCN (2017-10-01). Malindangia mcgregori: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22706626A118480538 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-3.rlts.t22706626a118480538.en.
- ^ Taylor, Barry (2020). "McGregor's Cuckooshrike (Malindangia mcgregori), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.mcgcus1.01. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ IUCN (2017-10-01). Malindangia mcgregori: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22706626A118480538 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-3.rlts.t22706626a118480538.en.