Black-winged flycatcher-shrike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-winged flycatcher-shrike |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hemipus
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| Species: |
hirundinaceus
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| Synonyms | |
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Hemipus obscurus |
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The black-winged flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus) is a small, interesting bird. It belongs to a group of birds called flycatcher-shrikes. You can find this bird in places like the Malay Peninsula and the big islands of Sunda. It loves to live in lowland forests. Sometimes, it also lives in swamps and mangrove areas. Good news! Experts say this bird is not in danger of disappearing. It is considered a species of least concern.
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Meet the Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike!
This bird is about 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a pen!
What Does it Look Like?
- Males: They have a shiny black head and back. Their bottom (rump) has cool black and white stripes. Their tail is black. Their chin and upper throat are white. The lower throat and chest are a soft grey. Their belly is white. Their eyes are dark brown, and their beak and feet are black.
- Females: They look a bit different. Their upper parts are a sooty brown instead of black.
- Young Birds: Baby birds have a brownish-black beak. Their upper parts are sooty brown with light brown edges.
Where Do They Live?
The black-winged flycatcher-shrike lives in several places. You can find them from the Malay Peninsula all the way to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Bali.
Their Favorite Homes
These birds usually live in places that are not too high up. They prefer areas below 800 meters (about 2,600 feet). They are even more common below 300 meters (about 1,000 feet). They like to hang out in the tops of lowland forests. You might also spot them at the edges of forests. They can be seen along forest roads and near streams. Sometimes, they even live in swamps, mangroves, and younger forests that are growing back.
How Do They Behave?
This flycatcher-shrike is a clever hunter. It catches insects from under leaves. It also catches them right out of the air! They often sit on a branch where they can see everything.
Social Life and Sounds
- These birds are usually seen in pairs.
- Sometimes, you might see them alone or in small groups.
- They also join up with other types of birds to hunt for food together.
- They make different sounds. One call sounds like wirrawik. Another is a sharp chisi-wik.
- Their song is high-pitched and sounds like twee wi-wi-wi-wi.
Nesting and Babies
- They seem to breed between February and July.
- Their nest is shaped like a cone. They attach it to a tree branch using cobwebs.
- The male bird gathers pieces of bark, lichen, and other plant fibers. He also collects cobwebs.
- The female bird shapes the nest. She presses her body against it to make it just right.
- The bark they use helps to hide the nest. This makes it very hard to spot!
- Their eggs are white with dark brown spots.
Is This Bird Safe?
The number of black-winged flycatcher-shrikes is going down. This is because their homes are disappearing. However, their numbers are not dropping fast enough to make them an endangered species. Because of this, the IUCN (a group that checks on animals) says it is a least-concern species. This means it is not currently at high risk.
