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.
McGregor's cuckooshrike | |
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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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Description and taxonomy
editEBird 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]
Habitat and conservation status
editThe 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.[6]
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.
- ^ 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.