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| + | [[Image:23133blue-headed_coucal.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|megan+perkins|megan perkins}} <br />Kisumu, [[Kenya]], December 2006]] | ||
;[[:Category:Centropus|Centropus]] monachus | ;[[:Category:Centropus|Centropus]] monachus | ||
| + | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 45–52 cm (17¾-20½ in) | ||
| + | *Crown and nape black with bluish iridescence in good light | ||
| + | *Chestnut lower back and wings | ||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | Larger and with less chestnut wings than [[Senegal Coucal]]; Smaller than [[Coppery-tailed Coucal]] and has unbarrred uppertail coverts. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:Blue Headed Coucal Immature 9 - Copy.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|whiteheadedvulture|whiteheadedvulture}}<br />Accra, [[Ghana]], April 2016]] | ||
[[Africa]] south of the Sahara to [[Angola]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] and [[Tanzania]]. | [[Africa]] south of the Sahara to [[Angola]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] and [[Tanzania]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | ''Centropus monachus'' has three subspecies: | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| − | *''C. m. | + | |
| − | *''C. m. | + | ''Centropus monachus'' has three subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: |
| − | *''C. m. | + | *''C. m. occidentalis'': |
| + | :*[[Guinea]] and [[Ivory Coast]] east to southern [[Nigeria]], [[Cameroon]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], and northern [[Angola]]; populations of the western and southern [[DRC]] variously attributed to ''occidentalis'' or to ''fisheri'' | ||
| + | *''C. m. fischeri'': | ||
| + | :*Southeastern [[Sudan]] and [[South Sudan]] to eastern [[DRC]], [[Uganda]], western [[Kenya]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], and northwestern [[Tanzania]] | ||
| + | *''C. m. monachus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Eritrea]] and [[Ethiopia]] to central [[Kenya]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | [[Image:Blue Headed Coucal 4-1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|whiteheadedvulture|whiteheadedvulture}}<br />Accra, [[Ghana]], 10 September 2020<!--EDITORS: this image added as there are now flight pictures in the Gallery-->]] | ||
| + | Dense undergrowth in papyrus swamps and habitats close to water. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Its nest is oval with a side entrance, built from sedges and grasses and lined with green leaves. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | As well as carrion, they eat reptiles, amphibians, snakes, birds and their eggs; also rodents, insects and snails. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Kenya Birds | ||
| + | #{{Ref-SinclairRyan03}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| + | Search the Gallery using the scientific name: | ||
{{GSearch|Centropus+monachus}} | {{GSearch|Centropus+monachus}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Centropus | + | Search the Gallery using the common name: |
| + | {{GSearch|"Blue-headed Coucal"}} | ||
| + | {{GS-checked}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Centropus]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:24, 27 April 2022
- Centropus monachus
Identification
45–52 cm (17¾-20½ in)
- Crown and nape black with bluish iridescence in good light
- Chestnut lower back and wings
Similar species
Larger and with less chestnut wings than Senegal Coucal; Smaller than Coppery-tailed Coucal and has unbarrred uppertail coverts.
Distribution
Africa south of the Sahara to Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Centropus monachus has three subspecies[1]:
- C. m. occidentalis:
- Guinea and Ivory Coast east to southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and northern Angola; populations of the western and southern DRC variously attributed to occidentalis or to fisheri
- C. m. fischeri:
- C. m. monachus:
Habitat
Dense undergrowth in papyrus swamps and habitats close to water.
Behaviour
Breeding
Its nest is oval with a side entrance, built from sedges and grasses and lined with green leaves.
Diet
As well as carrion, they eat reptiles, amphibians, snakes, birds and their eggs; also rodents, insects and snails.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Kenya Birds
- Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Blue-headed Coucal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue-headed_Coucal
External Links
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
Search the Gallery using the common name:
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
