(Picture of juvenile. Imp sizes. References updated) |
(taxonomy, reference updated) |
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| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
[[Image:Blue Headed Coucal Immature 9 - Copy.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|whiteheadedvulture|whiteheadedvulture}}<br />Accra, [[Ghana]], April 2016]] | [[Image:Blue Headed Coucal Immature 9 - Copy.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|whiteheadedvulture|whiteheadedvulture}}<br />Accra, [[Ghana]], April 2016]] | ||
| − | ''Centropus monachus'' has | + | ''Centropus monachus'' has three subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: |
| + | *''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. fischeri'': | ||
| − | :*[[ | + | :*Southeastern [[Sudan]] and [[South Sudan]] to eastern [[DRC]], [[Uganda]], western [[Kenya]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], and northwestern [[Tanzania]] |
*''C. m. monachus'': | *''C. m. monachus'': | ||
| − | :*[[Ethiopia]] to central [[Kenya]] | + | :*[[Eritrea]] and [[Ethiopia]] to central [[Kenya]] |
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Dense undergrowth in papyrus swamps and habitats close to water. | Dense undergrowth in papyrus swamps and habitats close to water. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
As well as carrion, they eat reptiles, amphibians, snakes, birds and their eggs; also rodents, insects and snails. | As well as carrion, they eat reptiles, amphibians, snakes, birds and their eggs; also rodents, insects and snails. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Kenya Birds |
#{{Ref-SinclairRyan03}} | #{{Ref-SinclairRyan03}} | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
Revision as of 12:36, 2 September 2017
- 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, 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/
- 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 29 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue-headed_Coucal
