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Green Billed Coucal
Centropus chlororhynchos
7.90906, 80.8338
Field Notes
Description:
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 medium to 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.
Habitat:
This species is somewhat smaller and less contrasted than the more 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.
Notes:
I was hiking through a village which leads to the Makandawa Forest Reserve in Kitulgala Sri Lanka, when my guide Siripala suddenly showed me this extremely rare bird about 100m away. It was obviously building a nest as it had reeds in its mouth. I had only few seconds to photograph it, before it flew off.
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