Ground Cuckoo-shrike (4/6)

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Coracina maxima  

I was walking through bush and three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes suddenly flew from a tree I was getting close to.

As the distance between us increased I was surprised to see one of the birds suddenly make a u-turn and come back to the tree.

As I watched it shuffling its wings, I noticed a raggy looking nest directly in front of it decorated with what looked like tufts of wool. Keeping a careful eye on me, the bird settled onto the nest.

I took several photographs, which didn't seem to cause much consternation to the bird, and then left.

The last time I saw a Ground Cuckoo-shrike, it completely fooled me with a broken-wing routine, and I approached it with a view to providing assistance instead of photographing it.

Of course, as soon as I got close to it, the bird yelled "Sucker!" and flew off. I didn't actually hear it call that, being a bit deaf, but I'm sure it would have.

There were no trees for nests nearby, nor could I see any young birds, so why the broken-wing routine, I don't know. Practice maybe.

Ground Cuckoo-shrikes confuse me.