English name: Mauritius Cuckooshrike
Scientific name: Coracina typica
French name: Échenilleur de Maurice

Size: 22-25 cm

Description

Subspecies: Monotypic

MALE
Upperparts ashy-grey becoming paler on rump. Chin, throat and underparts greyish white, breast and flanks more strongly washed and faintly marked with grey. 
Wings blackish, edged white and tail feathers black with white tips. Supercilium greyish white, poorly marked. Bill and legs black, eyes dark brown.

FEMALE
Upperparts rufous-brown. Chin whitish, merging with rufous-brown underparts. Tail feathers blackish brown with pale cinnamon-buff tips. Flight feathers blackish brown, edged rufous-brown.

JUVENILE
upperparts barred dark brown and buff; underparts buffy white with dark brown streaks, tail dark brown, feathers tipped buffy white. Upperwing dark brown and underwing-coverts buffy white.

Voice 
Territorial song, given by male from perch, a series of short whistles preceded by a few faster introductory notes.

Similar species
No other comparably sized passerine species in Mauritius has similar pale grey, black and white (Male) or rufous (Female) plumage.

General habits
Lives in forest dominated by native tree species. Sedentary and resident on territory, which is defended all year. Usually seen singly, in pairs or in family groups. 
Moves through canopy by jumping from perch to perch, making occasional flights. 

Status and distribution
Endemic resident on Mauritius. Status vulnerable, based on very small range and population. Native forests (excluding dwarf forest) of SW Mauritius.

Reference
Birds of Africa Volume VIII pp 661-662