Coracina macei (Lesson, 1831)

A large grey and white bird with black near the eyes and on the edges of wings. Found in evergreen and deciduous forests, and well wooded areas in cities.

The male is predominantly grey, with white below and black tail and wings. It has a heavy and slightly hooked bill and a broad dark eye-streak. The female has a less conspicuous eye-streak and her underparts are barred grey and white with a white rump-patch that can be clearly seen while in flight. It perches upright. The bird migrates locally during the breeding season and is usually found on tree-tops, often in pairs or small groups. It flies with the pattern of a few strokes followed by short glides. Once it lands it sometimes flicks up one wing then the other almost seeming to imitate a person who is shuffling about in nervousness though this behavior is predominantly seen when courting. In breeding season it is common to see a pair shuffling through the foliage uttering shrill screaming calls while slightly fluttering their wings. This bird feeds on mantids, other large insects and their larvae and various wild figs, sometimes descending to the understories and even the ground foraging through the fallen leaves. Its breeding season occurs predominantly during March to July and the nest comprising of twigs and grass rather flimsily collaborated to form a saucer-shaped shallow structure, is found up to 18 meters above the ground. This bird has been seen near the Skandashram trail.

It has a loud piercing `ti-e-ee... ´ call, often uttered in flight, as well some lesser heard squealing notes.