Researchers working in Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park photographed a Ghana cuckooshrike in June — the first verified record of the species in 13 years — highlighting how protected forest fragments can shelter rare birds.
A Ghana cuckooshrike (Lobotos lobatus) was photographed in Taï National Park in June, the first confirmed sighting since 2013.
The rediscovery depended on field skill, close teamwork, and the species’ inclusion in the Search for Lost Birds partnership.
Taï National Park remains a stronghold but faces threats like logging, agriculture, mining, and illegal hunting that fragment the Upper Guinean rainforest.
In June, two field research fellows with the International Bird Conservation Partnership (IBCP), Paulo Ditzel and Stephanie Bartlett, photographed a Ghana cuckooshrike in Côte d'Ivoire's Taï National Park. Ornithologists had not confirmed the species since a 2013 sighting in Ghana's Atewa Forest. The bird was seen moving through the forest canopy as part of a mixed-species flock and was captured on camera before it disappeared again.
Observers described a striking bird: orange body, yellow and black wings and tail, a dark head with copper cheek patches. Because the species often stays high in the canopy and is wary of people, encounters are brief and identification relies on good optics and photography. Bartlett says she has learned to use the camera as an identification tool for quick, fleeting views.
Ditzel first recognized the bird visually and alerted Bartlett, who photographed it. They then alerted colleagues at the research station, but the cuckooshrike moved out of sight. At one point it reappeared long enough to catch a caterpillar, then vanished. The team believes their photos may be among the best ever taken of this species. The sighting was supported by IBCP field experience and the Search for Lost Birds partnership, which lists species not recorded in a decade.
Range, behavior, and detection challenges
Why this matters for future surveys
The sighting demonstrates the value of coordinated field effort, local knowledge, and photographic documentation when searching for elusive species. Listing species through initiatives like the Search for Lost Birds can focus attention and resources on targeted surveys. Field teams with experience in canopy detection and rapid coordination increase the chance of documenting species that go unrecorded for years.
Researchers emphasized the role of protected areas and continued monitoring to understand whether the sighting reflects a remnant population or an isolated individual. Broader survey efforts across remaining forest fragments, and collaboration with West African researchers, can build a clearer picture of the species' current status and distribution.
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