Difference between revisions of "Green-billed Coucal" - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 21:44, 22 May 2015

Photo by 2x Dave 2x
Sinharaja, Sri Lanka, March 2015

Centropus chlororhynchos

Identification

43 - 46cm.

Black head, body and tail
Neck and tail with purple gloss
Chestnut wings
Ivory to pale green bill

Sexes alike but females are larger. Juveniles are similar to adults but their eye is grey (not red) and the bill is greenish with a dark grey base and culmen.

Similar species

Similar to the more common Greater Coucal. Note the green bill, the darker chestnut wings and the purple gloss (blue in Greater Coucal).

Distribution

Endemic to Sri Lanka. Found locally in wet zone of south-western Sri Lanka, especially in Sinharaja Rain Forest and at Kitulgala.
A rare and still declining species, threatened by continued loss of forest to agriculture.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].
The scientific name is sometimes spelled chlororhynchus.

Habitat

Found in humid high evergreen forests with dense undergrowth in the wet zone of the island. Often in bamboo and rattan cane. From lowlands up to 800m.

Behaviour

A very shy and elusive bird, better known by its calls than by sight.

Diet

Ominvorous. Forages on the ground and in trees and creepers.

Breeding

Breeding season mainly May to July. The nest is domed or globe-shaped and made of twigs, roots and grass. It's built near the ground. Lays 2 to 3 eggs.

Movements

This is a resident species.

Vocalisation

Recorded by Andrew Whitehouse
Kithulgala, Sri Lanka, July 2010 <flashmp3>Green Billed Coucal Kithulgala 160710.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

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
Avibase
BF Member observations

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Green-billed Coucal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green-billed_Coucal

External Links

Search for photos of Green-billed Coucal in the gallery

View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:331.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|charlirox099|Chamith Chandrasekara}}<br />Sinharaja Forrest,[[Sri Lanka]]]]
+[[Image:Green-billed Coucal 2.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Dave 2x|Dave 2x}}<br />Sinharaja, [[Sri Lanka, ]]March 2015]]
 ;[[:Category:Centropus|Centropus]] chlororhynchos
 ==Identification==
-It looks rather like the much commoner [[Greater Coucal]] from which it may at once be distinguished by its leg, like-green beak; its wings, too, are much darker chestnut, and the sheen on the head and neck is purple, not blue. Sexes alike.
+- 46cm.
+* Black head, body and tail
+* Neck and tail with purple gloss
+* Chestnut wings
+* Ivory to pale green bill
+Sexes alike but females are larger. Juveniles are similar to adults but their eye is grey (not red) and the bill is greenish with a dark grey base and culmen.
+====Similar species====
+Similar to the more common [[Greater Coucal]]. Note the green bill, the darker chestnut wings and the purple gloss (blue in Greater Coucal).
 ==Distribution==
-Endemic. Found locally in wet zone of south-western [[Sri Lanka]], especially in Sinharaja Rain Forrest
+Endemic to [[Sri Lanka]]. Found locally in wet zone of south-western [[Sri Lanka]], especially in [[Sinharaja]] Rain Forest and at [[Kitulgala]].<br />
+A rare and still declining species, threatened by continued loss of forest to agriculture.
 ==Taxonomy==
-This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.<br />
+This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.<br />
 The scientific name is sometimes spelled ''chlororhynch'''u'''s''.
 ==Habitat==
-This coucal is found only in the forests of the wet zone, west, south-west and south of the main mountain massif, which it ascends to 2,500 feet, or perhaps higher.
+Found in humid high evergreen forests with dense undergrowth in the wet zone of the island. Often in bamboo and rattan cane. From lowlands up to 800m.
 ==Behaviour==
-A very shy and elusive bird, it is far better known by its calls than by sight but, wherever the wet-zone forests have been spared the axe, it is still fairly common; its range, however, is rapidly dwindling and as it shows no sign of being able to adjust itself to new conditions, there can be no doubt that its days will soon be numbered - with those of several ither endemic forest birds - unless wise foresight reserves extensive forest sanctuaries in the wet zone.
+A very shy and elusive bird, better known by its calls than by sight.
+====Diet====
+[[Dictionary_M-O#O|Ominvorous]]. Forages on the ground and in trees and creepers.
+====Breeding====
+Breeding season mainly May to July. The nest is domed or globe-shaped and made of twigs, roots and grass. It's built near the ground. Lays 2 to 3 eggs.
+====Movements====
+This is a resident species.
 ====Vocalisation====
 Recorded by {{user|Andrew+Whitehouse|Andrew Whitehouse}}<br />Kithulgala, [[Sri Lanka]], July 2010
@@ Line 18: / Line 32: @@
 ''[[Media:Green Billed Coucal Kithulgala 160710.mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 ==References==
-#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Avibase
+#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-HBWVol4}}#Avibase
 #BF Member observations
 {{ref}}
@@ Line 25: / Line 39: @@
 *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=473&Bird_Image_ID=4216&Bird_Family_ID=80 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
 [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Centropus]]  [[Category:Bird Songs]]
-http://charlirox-slbirds.blogspot.com/2011/09/lanka-bata-etikukula-green-billed.html