(Alternative name) |
Aloktewari (talk | contribs) (copyright symbol to images) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Alternative names: Common Crow Pheasant''' | '''Alternative names: Common Crow Pheasant''' | ||
− | [[Image:Greater Coucal4.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Subspecies ''C. s. parroti''<br />Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Hibiscus Hotel, Tissa, [[Sri Lanka]], July 2009]] | + | [[Image:Greater Coucal4.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Subspecies ''C. s. parroti''<br />Photo © by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Hibiscus Hotel, Tissa, [[Sri Lanka]], July 2009]] |
;[[:Category:Centropus|Centropus]] sinensis | ;[[:Category:Centropus|Centropus]] sinensis | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
*Whitish bars on the underside and tail | *Whitish bars on the underside and tail | ||
====Variations==== | ====Variations==== | ||
− | [[Image:DSC 5960.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br /> Photo by {{user|HongKongPixels|HongKongPixels}}<br />[[Hong Kong]], May 2013]] | + | [[Image:DSC 5960.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br /> Photo © by {{user|HongKongPixels|HongKongPixels}}<br />[[Hong Kong]], May 2013]] |
''kangeanensis'' has pale buff head and body and a grey tail, also a dark morph with grey throat and mottled grey breast | ''kangeanensis'' has pale buff head and body and a grey tail, also a dark morph with grey throat and mottled grey breast | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
Forms a superspecies with [[Andaman Coucal]]. ''parroti'' is sometimes split as Southern Coucal. | Forms a superspecies with [[Andaman Coucal]]. ''parroti'' is sometimes split as Southern Coucal. | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
− | [[Image:greater_coucal_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />[[Bharatpur Keoladeo National Park|Keoladeo National Park]], [[India]], June-2013]] | + | [[Image:greater_coucal_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo © by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />[[Bharatpur Keoladeo National Park|Keoladeo National Park]], [[India]], June-2013]] |
− | [[Image:DSCN4389a.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''parroti''<br />Photo by {{user|S+K+Gudi|S K Gudi}}<br />Hubli, Karnataka, [[India]], July 2017]] | + | [[Image:DSCN4389a.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''parroti''<br />Photo © by {{user|S+K+Gudi|S K Gudi}}<br />Hubli, Karnataka, [[India]], July 2017]] |
There are 6 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | There are 6 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''C. s. sinensis'': | *''C. s. sinensis'': |
Revision as of 16:56, 15 August 2019
Alternative names: Common Crow Pheasant
- Centropus sinensis
Identification
These are large members of the Cuckoo family, 47 - 52cm (18½-20½ in).
- Black head
- Black, glossed purple upper mantle and underparts
- Chestnut back and wings
- Lack pale shaft streaks on the coverts
- Red eyes
Juvenile
- Duller black with spots on the crown
- Whitish bars on the underside and tail
Variations
kangeanensis has pale buff head and body and a grey tail, also a dark morph with grey throat and mottled grey breast
Distribution
Found in southeast Asia from India east to south China, Indochina and Indonesia.
Widespread and common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Andaman Coucal. parroti is sometimes split as Southern Coucal.
Subspecies
There are 6 subspecies[1]:
- C. s. sinensis:
- C. s. parroti:
- C. s. intermedius:
- Bangladesh to Myanmar, southern Thailand, Indochina and Malay Peninsula
- C. s. bubutus:
- Greater Sundas and adjacent islands to south-western Philippines
- C. s. anonymus:
- Southern Philippines (Jolo, Tawitawi, Basilan and Sanga Sanga)
- C. s. kangeangensis:
- Kangean Islands (Java Sea)
An additional subspecies, eurycercus is generally considered invalid[1].
Habitat
Scrubland, secondary forest, tall grassland, thickets, paddyfields, mangroves, bamboo and gardens. Avoids dense primary forest.
Occurs from lowlands up to 1200m, occasionally up to 2100m.
Behaviour
Wanders around like a pheasant, but walks more like a raven. The are well known for sunbathing with wings open wide.
When disturbed they make short flights with shallow wing beats and brief glides into cover.
Diet
Feeds on small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, insects, scorpions, spiders, snails, slugs, eggs and nestlings of small birds, fruits and seeds.
Breeding
Breeding season in the rains, mainly from June to September in northern India, all year in southern India and Sri Lanka. A monogamous species. The nest is a large globular cell made of twigs and leaves and with a lateral entrance. It's hidden in a thick bush or low in a thorny tree or in a paddfield. Lays 2 to 4 eggs.
Movements
This is a resident species.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>greater_coucal_call.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, India, June-2013
One individual sitting on top of a stunted tree and calling during peak summer. Calls by Indian Peafowl, Jungle Babbler, Grey Francolin and White-breasted Kigfisher can also be heard in the BG.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Coucal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Coucal
External Links