Shufflewings earning their name
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes are a type of bird with the nickname “Shufflewings” because they like to move their wings up and down while perching on a branch. They do it when they land and, I’ve just seen, also when they want to attract each other’s attention. The wing shuffle is almost like a little dance. This video shows two of the birds shuffling at each other:
Don’t let the official name, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, deceive you. These birds aren’t shrikes or cuckoos. Evidently the reason they were given this name is that their beaks have the same hooked end as a shrike’s and their feathers have similar patterns to some cuckoos.
Check out the other Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes that I’ve spotted over time.
Common name: Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, also called a Shufflewing
Scientific name: Coracina novaehollandiae
Approximate length: 35 cm
Date spotted: 27 November 2024 (spring)
Location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’32.9″S 151°14’47.7″E
Posted on 2024/11/29, in Birds, Cuckoo-shrike and tagged australia, birds, birdwatching, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, shufflewing, Sydney birds. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Sydney Birder 
Ah, that explains the nickname! And good to know that their name isn’t entirely accurate either. I’ve seen a few of these birds recently in the upper Blue Mountains and Lithgow district, but they are usually in flight. I’ll keep an eye out for their shuffling wings next time!
I hope you get to see the shuffle! As you mentioned, the birds are usually in flight when we see them. Also, they tend to spend their time high in the tree tops. It’s a treat to catch a good look at one.