Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
The Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) is a captivating member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae), distinguished by its striking appearance and non-parasitic breeding strategy. Averaging 38-41 cm (15-16 in) in length and weighing 70-120 grams, this medium-sized bird exhibits a glossy dark green to blackish plumage on its upperparts, contrasting with a rufous-colored vent. Its most diagnostic field mark is the expansive patch of bright, bare blue skin surrounding the eye, which gi...
Primarily inhabits dry deciduous forests, thorn forests, and scrub jungles, often found in areas with dense undergrowth or near water bodies, typically at elevations below 900 meters.
Feeds predominantly on large insects such as caterpillars, mantids, and stick insects, supplemented by small vertebrates like lizards, and occasionally fruits and berries. Primarily forages by arboreal gleaning.
Blue-faced Malkohas are generally secretive, diurnal birds that forage slowly and deliberately through the mid-canopy and understory vegetation. They are often observed singly or in pairs, exhibiting a rather sluggish, often cryptic movement style as they glean insects. During the breeding season...
The Blue-faced Malkoha is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with a significant distribution across peninsular India and Sri Lanka. In India, its range extends from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal southwards through the Deccan Plateau to the southernmost states, including Karnataka, Ker...
Least Concern
- One of the few cuckoo species that builds its own nest and raises its own young, defying the typical brood-parasitic behavior associated with cuckoos. - The vivid, bare blue skin around its eye is a striking and unmistakable field mark, giving it its common name. - Its long, graduated tail make...