Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrikes

Now back to birding.

While working in the garden over the last few days I have been aware of two Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrikes visiting the garden from time to time. While not staying in the garden all the time they do seem to be hanging around the general area quite a bit. I wonder if they are actually a pair? Are they looking for a suitable nesting site?

Are they really a “pair”
That reminds me of a birding friend many years ago who gently corrected me on the use of the word “pair” when speaking of birds. I commented that I saw a pair of a particular species (can’t remember which one now). “Did you see them breeding? Were they mating, or feeding young in a nest? If not – your saw two of them, not “a pair.”

Regular Garden Visitor
This beautiful bird is worthy of note in this blog. I could not say that it is a resident species in our garden. It is a regular visitor. In recent months those visits have been quite irregular – until this last week.

Common, Widespread Species
It is a common species and widespread throughout Australia, including Tasmania. In my experience this species is most often encountered singly or in twos. Occasionally I have recorded 3 or 4 together, and once about 8 in a loose flock. According to one field guide I consulted large migratory flocks can be encountered in northern Australia.