Madagascar Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris cinereus) [XC162169]
by Mike Nelson from Ankarafantsika National Park, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar (call, song)
Madagascar Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris cinereus) [XC623668]
by Peter Boesman from Bemanevika, Bealanana District, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar (call, song)
Subspecies
Relatively fine bill and colour of upperparts suggest possible link with Grauer's Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris graueri) of eastern DRCongo and with Asiatic group comprising Black-winged Cuckooshrike (Lalage melaschistos), Lesser Cuckooshrike (Lalage fimbriata) and Black-headed Cuckooshrike (Lalage melanoptera). Subspecies cucullata and moheliensis sometimes considered a separate species by virtue of differences in plumage, size and voice. Form described as Coracina sulphurea is a colour morph of cucullata.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
cucullata (Müller, 1776) - Grand Comoro (Njazidja), in Comoro Is.
moheliensis Benson, 1960 - Mohéli (Mwali), in Comoro Is. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Comoro Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris cucullatus).
cinerea (Müller, 1776) - Northern and eastern Madagascar.
pallidus Delacour, 1931 - Western, central and south-western Madagascar.