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Yellow-billed Malkoha - BirdForum Opus

Photo by obasanmi
Tangkoko, Sulawesi, October 2005

Alternative names: Sulawesi Malkoha

Rhamphococcyx calyorhynchus

Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus

Identification

53cm. The only Malkoha on Sulawesi

  • upperparts rufous-maroon
  • crown and face dark grey
  • wings dark purple
  • tail black
  • throat and breast rufous
  • belly dark grey
  • bill yellow above, black tip with white spot and red below nostril and on lower mandible

Variation

  • calyorhynchus is darker, meridionalis paler on underparts and on crown, rufiloris has dark rufous above lores rather than grey.

Distribution

Endemic to Sulawesi (Indonesia) and some adjacent islands.
A poorly known species.

Taxonomy

Formerly placed in Phaenicophaeus.

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

  • R. c. calyorhynchus: Sulawesi and Togian Islands
  • R. c. meridionalis: Central and southern Sulawesi
  • R. c. rufiloris: Butung Island (off Sulawesi)

Habitat

Moist lowland forests.
From sea-level up to 1300m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects: follows macaques and catches insects they stir up. Also hops and creeps around in the canopy like a squirrel. Also follows Bay Coucal.

Breeding

Breeding season from November to December. The nest is undescribed.

Movements

A resident species.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. 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
  3. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2012. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  4. BF Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

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