Phaenicophaeus tristis
The Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis) is a striking, medium-sized member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae), instantly recognizable by its vivid chartreuse-green bill and prominent bare red facial skin. Measuring approximately 50-55 cm (20-22 inches) in length, including its exceptionally long, graduated tail, and weighing around 100-140 grams, its plumage is predominantly dark, glossy grey to sooty black, often with a subtle bluish sheen, contrasting with white tips on the undertai...
This species primarily inhabits evergreen and deciduous forests, dense secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and overgrown plantations, preferring areas with tangled undergrowth and dense canopies. It is typically found from lowlands up to elevations of around 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
The diet of the Green-billed Malkoha is primarily insectivorous, consisting of large insects such as caterpillars, stick insects, mantises, and grasshoppers, along with spiders. They also prey on small vertebrates like lizards and frogs, and occasionally consume some fruits.
Green-billed Malkohas are diurnal and typically solitary or found in pairs, moving stealthily and deliberately through the mid-canopy and understory of dense vegetation. They are arboreal foragers, employing a gleaning technique to pluck insects and other prey from foliage and branches. While not...
The Green-billed Malkoha has a wide distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, making it a resident species throughout its extensive range with no significant migratory patterns. Its breeding range spans from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh eastward through Myanmar, Thai...
Least Concern
- Unlike many cuckoos, the Green-billed Malkoha is not a brood parasite; it builds its own nest and raises its own young. - Its scientific name, 'tristis,' ironically means 'sad' in Latin, perhaps referring to its often secretive and quiet demeanor, despite its vibrant bill. - The striking chartr...