Cerulean Cuckooshrike

A fairly large antshrike of riparian zones with lots of regional variation in plumage. Males are dark gray above, paler below, with white wing bars (not spots); the northwest subspecies is gray with a black cap. Females are rusty with a dark-gray hood. Found in seasonally flooded forests, river island forests, and mangroves. Forages close to the ground and sometimes accompanies mixed-species flocks. The song is an accelerating series of whistled descending notes.

Attractive bird found in a variety of semiopen and lightly wooded habitats, mainly in drier areas of the Andes, as well as across the lowlands from northern Argentina to southern Brazil. Usually in pairs or small groups, not with mixed-species flocks. Forages low to high in shrubs and trees. Male is colorful, with a bright blue head and yellow underparts and rump; back is greenish in Chile and north in the Andes to Ecuador, but black in eastern lowlands. Female is rather drab and is best identified by stout bill and presence of males.

One of the most striking and recognizable birds of the dry “Tumbesian Region” that encompasses parts of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. No other bird in range has a similar blue, white, and black pattern. Adults have yellow eyes. Young birds have dark eyes and slightly duller plumage. Noisy gangs of these impressive birds roam through dry forest giving a wide variety of calls, many of which have an odd, metallic quality.