Centropus milo
The Buff-headed Coucal, *Centropus milo*, is a striking member of the cuckoo family, endemic to the Solomon Islands. Measuring approximately 38-42 cm in length, this medium-sized bird is instantly recognizable by its distinctive buffy-orange head and neck, which contrasts sharply with its glossy, iridescent black body, wings, and tail. Its pale, often yellow-orange, eyes are another prominent field mark, standing out against its colorful head. Taxonomically, it belongs to the genus *Centropus...
Primarily inhabiting lowland and hill forest, the Buff-headed Coucal also thrives in secondary growth and dense forest edge habitats, ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,000 meters in elevation.
The Buff-headed Coucal is primarily carnivorous, feeding on a diverse range of large insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, as well as spiders, small lizards, frogs, and occasionally small rodents. It forages by gleaning and searching the ground and low vegetation.
Generally a shy and secretive bird, the Buff-headed Coucal spends much of its time foraging on or near the ground within dense undergrowth, though it can climb expertly through tangled vegetation. It is largely diurnal, active during daylight hours, and typically observed singly or in pairs. Fora...
The Buff-headed Coucal is strictly endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Its distribution is confined to three specific islands: Choiseul, Santa Isabel, and Malaita. Two subspecies are recognized: *Centropus milo albidiventris* found on Choiseul an...
Least Concern
- Unlike many of its cuckoo relatives, the Buff-headed Coucal is not a brood parasite, instead building its own nest and diligently raising its young. - Its striking buffy-orange head against a glossy black body makes it one of the most distinctively patterned coucals in the world. - This species...