Green-billed Coucal | |
---|---|
Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Cuculiformes |
Family: | Cuculidae |
Genus: | Centropus |
Species: | C. chlororhynchos |
Binomial name | |
Centropus chlororhynchos Blyth, 1849 |
|
Synonyms | |
Centropus chlororhynchus |
The Green-billed Coucal, Centropus chlororhynchos,[1] is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin.
It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The Green-billed Coucal is a rare and shy species of the tall rainforests of southwest Sri Lanka. It nests in a bush, and the typical clutch is 2-3 eggs.
This is a large species at 43 cm. Its head and body are purple-black, the wings are maroon above and black below, and the long tail is dark green. The bill is a distinctive light green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and streaked.
The Green-billed Coucal takes a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates, but snails are a favourite. It occasionally eats other food items.
This species is somewhat smaller and less contrasted than the widespread Greater Coucal. Despite its size and distinctive call, this is a difficult species to see because of the dense habitat in which it lives and its retiring nature.
This coucal has a small and declining population as a result of the forest destruction.
In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Batta atti-kukula or, Wal atti-kukula in Sinhala Language.[2] This bird appears in a 20 rupee Sri Lankan postal stamp.[3]