Centropus rectunguis
The Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) is a captivating, medium-sized cuckoo endemic to the dense lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia. Measuring approximately 38-42 cm (15-16.5 inches) in length, this species is entirely clad in glossy black plumage, often exhibiting a striking purplish or bluish sheen depending on the light, complemented by bright crimson-red eyes. Its most distinctive field mark, and the source of its name, is its unusually short hind toe claw (rectunguis means 'str...
Found primarily in lowland evergreen rainforests, secondary growth, and dense thickets, preferring areas with dense undergrowth. It typically occurs at elevations up to 1200 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of large insects (such as grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars), spiders, small lizards, frogs, and occasionally small snakes or rodents, all foraged by walking on the forest floor.
This coucal is largely diurnal but extremely shy, preferring to skulk stealthily through dense undergrowth, often detected by sound rather than sight. Its foraging strategy involves walking and running on the forest floor, gleaning a variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates from leaf litter...
The Short-toed Coucal is a resident species endemic to the Sunda Shelf region of Southeast Asia. Its primary distribution includes the Malay Peninsula (southern Thailand, Malaysia), the islands of Sumatra and Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei), and Palawan Island in the Philippines. It is found...
Least Concern
- The 'Short-toed' in its name refers to its unusually short hind toe claw, a distinctive feature among coucals. - Unlike most cuckoos, the Short-toed Coucal builds its own nest and raises its own young, showcasing self-sufficient parenting. - Its rich, bubbling call is a characteristic sound of ...