Petit's cuckooshrike

Campephaga petiti

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Petit's cuckooshrike (en); lagarteiro-de-Petit (pt); échenilleur de Petit (fr); oruguero de Petit (es); Kongoraupenfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Campephagidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in central Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon, through D.R. Congo and into Angola, Uganda and Kenya.

Size:
These birds are 20 cm long.

Habitat:
The Petit's cuckooshrike is mostly found in the canopy of moist tropical forests, but can also use second growths. They are mainly present at altitudes of 1.400-1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed on small insects and spiders, seeds and grain.

Breeding:
There is little information about the reproduction of this species. Female lay 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes, but there i no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large bur fragmented breeding range. Although the global population size has not been quantified, the Petit's cuckooshrike is reported to be uncommon to locally common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.