Centropus bengalensis
The Lesser Coucal, *Centropus bengalensis*, is a distinctive, medium-sized member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae), widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, yet notably non-parasitic. Measuring 31-36 cm in length and weighing 120-180g, adults are characterized by their striking glossy black plumage contrasting sharply with rich chestnut-rufous wings and a long, graduated black tail. Their bright red irises, sturdy black bill, and black legs are key identification ...
Primarily found in a variety of open, overgrown habitats, including tall grasslands, reedbeds, scrubland, secondary forests, and cultivated areas like rice paddies, often near water bodies. It occurs from sea level up to around 2,000 meters in some montane regions.
An opportunistic omnivore, its diet consists mainly of large insects (grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, scorpions), spiders, and small vertebrates (lizards, frogs, snakes, rodents), supplemented with eggs, nestlings, and some fruit and seeds. It forages primarily on the ground.
Lesser Coucals are largely diurnal, often observed foraging on the ground or clambering through dense vegetation during early mornings and late afternoons, usually roosting solitarily in thickets at night. They employ a secretive foraging strategy, walking slowly and deliberately through undergro...
The Lesser Coucal boasts a broad distribution across the Oriental biogeographic realm, extending from the Indian subcontinent eastward through mainland Southeast Asia and into parts of East Asia, as well as numerous islands. Its extensive range encompasses countries such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, ...
Least Concern
- Unlike most cuckoos, the Lesser Coucal is not a brood parasite; it builds its own nest and raises its own young. - Its scientific genus name, *Centropus*, means "spur-foot," referring to the long, straight hind claw found in coucals. - The Lesser Coucal is known for its remarkable ability to ru...