These are a common bird native to Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and are found in almost any wooded habitat throughout this area, except for rainforests and arid zones. They have adapted well to life in urban areas and are a fairly common sight on power lines in Australian towns and cities. Cuckoo-shrikes are not closely related to either cuckoos or shrikes but are so called because their feathers have similar patterns to those of cuckoos and their beak shape resembles that of shrikes.
They feed on insects and other invertebrates that are caught in the air, taken from foliage or caught on the ground; some fruits and seeds are also eaten.
The sexes are identical and mate with the same partner each year, young birds resemble the adults, except the black facial mask is reduced to an eye stripe. The nest is a shallow saucer of sticks and bark, bound together with cobwebs, and is remarkably small for the size of the bird, both partners construct the nest and care for the young birds. Outside the breeding season, large family groups and flocks of up to a hundred birds form.