Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike

Black-Faced Cuckoo Shrike

Strolling around with my camera mid-afternoon on a hot January day, I saw this fellow sitting high in a tree: a Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike.  These are the times when I wish I had a telephoto lens.  The bird was just sitting there, relaxed and I had the opportunity to take several shots before it moved to a branch to shelter beneath leaves.

Outlined against a deep blue sky, the black face is almost a silhouette, but there is sufficient detail to identify the bird. The white underside with soft grey feathers, and the black edged tail feathers can be seen.  It looks like such a strikingly beautiful bird. I hope I come across another one, lower down in the tree, so I can capture the plumage more clearly.

Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike
A slight flicker of movement caught my eye, or I may well have missed this beautiful bird.
Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike 2
Although the light is quite harsh, the black edges on the tail feathers can be seen in this image.
Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike 3
The black face is now hidden, but we can get a glimpse of the birds plumage in this shot.

 

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