Abstract: Feeding behavior of the Malabar Woodshrike Tephrodonis virgatus was studied at Thekkady, South India, from March 1980 to February 9181.It is a regular member of mixed species feeding flocks (MMF). Monthly and seasonal variation in its participation in MMF is dependent mainly on its breeding season and that of most of its close associates 25 species of birds show significant association with Malabar woodshrike in MMF and the probable reasons are explained. The benefit this species achieves might mainly be protection from predators increased food acquisition by less vigilance, and increasing feeding time and efficiency is also speculated. This species, being a cleaner, flushes out insects for the attending species and also forms the leading and cohesive member if the mixed flocks.