Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
The Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) is a strikingly beautiful and enigmatic species endemic to Sri Lanka. Measuring approximately 46 cm (18 inches) in length and weighing between 200-250 grams, this medium-sized cuckoo boasts a magnificent iridescent dark green plumage on its upperparts, contrasting sharply with a clean white belly. Its most distinctive field mark is the expansive patch of bare, vibrant crimson skin that surrounds its eyes and extends across its face, giving...
This species primarily inhabits dense, evergreen primary and mature secondary rainforests, often favoring the lower and mid-canopy strata. It can be found from lowland forests up to elevations of about 2000 meters in the montane cloud forests.
Its diet primarily consists of large arthropods, including stick insects, mantises, spiders, and especially large, hairy caterpillars. It also occasionally consumes small lizards and some fruits.
The Red-faced Malkoha is a famously shy and secretive bird, spending most of its time high in the forest canopy or sub-canopy. It moves deliberately and often slowly through the branches, typically walking and hopping rather than taking long flights, making it challenging to observe. Foraging inv...
The Red-faced Malkoha is strictly endemic to Sri Lanka, where its distribution is confined primarily to the southwestern 'Wet Zone' and the adjacent central hill country. It is a resident species, exhibiting no migratory movements across its range. Its presence is most consistent in the dense, ma...
Vulnerable
- The Red-faced Malkoha is one of the few non-parasitic cuckoos in the world, building its own nest and raising its young, a significant departure from the parasitic habits of many cuckoo species. - It is entirely endemic to the island nation of Sri Lanka, found nowhere else on Earth. - Its scien...