Green-billed malkoha

Green-billed malkoha
in Nepal
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Phaenicophaeus
Species:
P. tristis
Binomial name
Phaenicophaeus tristis
(Lesson, 1830)
Synonyms
  • Rhopodytes tristis

The green-billed malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis) is a species of non-parasitic cuckoo found throughout Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The birds are waxy bluish black with a long graduated tail with white tips to the tail feathers. The bill is prominent and curved. These birds are found in dry scrub and thin forests.

Description

Green-billed malkoha is about 50–60 cm centimetres long and weighs 100–128 g. It often has a clear white boarder to the red face patch salty grey on the face and neck. Adult green-billed malkoha has dark grey with green gloss above, oily green wings.

Distribution and habitat

Its breeding habitat is Primary forest, second growth, dense thickets, scrub, cultivated areas, rubber plantations across south Asia east from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka to the Southeast Asia.

It mainly lives on insects, but also is known to catch small lizards and small mammals. occasionally catches insects in flight, like a flycatcher!

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Phaenicophaeus tristis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684098A93014118. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684098A93014118.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.