Photo © by Joseph Morlan
Klablim, Sorong Timur, Sorong City, West Papua, Indonesia. 22 November 2023.
Alternative names: Black-billed Coucal; Black Scrub Coucal, Bernstein's Coucal
- Centropus bernsteini
Identification
46 - 52cm.
- Black plumage, glossed green above
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill
- manam is larger
Sexes similar. Juveniles are barred rufous above, their wings and tail are narrowly barred buff to pale chestnut, the throat whitish, the neck marked with chestnut-brown, the central belly is grey with dark bars, the rest of the underparts is blackish brown with narrow pale barring.
Distribution
Endemic to New Guinea.
Not uncommon but little known.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Pheasant Coucal and Biak Coucal.
Two subspecies recognized:
- C. b. bernsteini in western and central New Guinea east to Simbang and the Sattelberg
- C. b. manam on Manam Island (northeastern New Guinea)
Habitat
Found in scrub, tall cane grass and rank vegetation. Occurs from sea-level up to 500m, sometimes higher.
Behaviour
Shy and difficult to observe.
Diet
No information.
Breeding
The nest is a domed mass made of cane grass with a side opening. It's placed in grass. Lays 2 egg.
Movements
This is a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Black Coucal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Black_Coucal
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
