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
- 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/
- 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
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2012. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Yellow-billed Malkoha. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-billed_Malkoha
