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Ground Cuckoo-shrike

(Coracina maxima)
Size: 34-37 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Ground Cuckoo-shrikes are found over most of the Australian inland, with the exception of the Pilbara region in WA and the Nullarbor in SA. Except for the QLD east coast and the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria normally not found on the coastline.

They have a preference for sparsely vegetated semi-arid country, where they hunt out in the open on the ground.

Sightings

We spotted Ground Cuckoo-shrikes 20 km south-west of Narrabri, NSW, in May 2006. They stayed in roadside casuarina trees as a family of four, cuddling up to each other when not flying around exchanging calls continually. Easily approachable, at least as long as they were up in the trees. Seen in one location one day and 4 km further 2 days later.

Seen also in July 2007, 10 km west of Narrabri.

Next sighted 20 km east of Narrabri in May 2008, where a family of 5 was foraging in a paddock. Seen again in the same area in December 2008. Spotted again in the area in August 2011.

Photos

Family of four Ground Cuckoo-shrikes in a Casuarina tree

Three of the four Ground Cuckoo-shrikes above, the on on the left calling the fourth while it was flying around

Now only two remain...

Although partly obscured, here one can see the pronounced spread of the forked tail into two fans when landing

Lateral view of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike on a paddock

View from behind of a Ground Cuckoo-shrike

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic Elementary unit: Small flock

Food

Like all members of the Coracina family known to us, Ground Cuckoo-shrikes hunt small animals, up to the size of a Praying Mantis or a centipede, from low perches.