- Andaman Coucal
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Andaman Coucal 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae Genus: Centropus Species: C. andamanensis Binomial name Centropus andamanensis
"Tytler," Beavan, 1867[2]Synonyms Centropus sinensis andamanensis
The Andaman Coucal or Brown Coucal (Centropus andamanensis) is a species of non-parasitic cuckoo found in the Andamans, Coco and Table Islands. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Greater Coucal. It is found mainly in forested habitats and thickly covered gardens.
Contents
Description
It is a large coucal, with males being around 380–400 mm (12.6-15.7 inches) and females somewhat larger at 400–420 mm (15.7-16.5 inches) in length. Structurally, it closely resembles the Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), except that its plumage is a fawn brown as opposed to C. sinensis's bluish-purple. It has a chestnut rear mantle and wings and the head is pale tawny brown. The mantle and breast grade from pale to dark brown on the belly and vent. The iris is pale brown. The tail is a pale brown at the base and dark violet-brown towards the tip. The tail feathers have conspicuous black shafts.[3] The juvenile shows slight barring on the body, especially on the underside.[4][5][6]
Taxonomy and systematics
Illustration by Joseph Smit (1873)
This species was first described as Centropus andamanensis (toponym after its distribution) by R.C. Tytler, although his notes were published by R.C. Beavan in 1867. Stuart Baker (1927) continued to treat it as a species but Ripley (1961) and Ali and Ripley (1969) included it as a subspecies of Centropus sinensis. This is justified by the treatment of another specieis with a brown form in the Kangean Islands, Centropus sinensis kangeangensis. Peters considered it doubtful as a subspecies and noted a structural resemblance to the Sri Lankan Centropus chlororhynchus.[7] Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) consider it a valid species on the basis of distinct vocalization and also suggest elevation of the Kangean form and further study of Centropus sinensis.[4][5][8][9]
Distribution and habitat
It is mainly found in the Andamans (at least South, North and associated islets) as well as on the nearby Coco Islands and Table Island, which belong to Myanmar. It is common in forests and in disturbed areas including gardens, forest and edge, mangroves, edges of paddy fields.[5]
Behaviour and ecology
It breeds during the monsoon (May through July). The nest is made of twigs, grass and leaves and is placed well above the ground in a tree. The usual clutch is two or three.[5]
The song is much like that of the Greater Coucal, consisting of a long series of very deep and resonant hoop notes. The notes however rise abruptly in pitch. It is also known to give chuckling and grating calls.[4]
Feeds on all kinds of insects, small frogs, crabs and lizards.[10]
References
- ^ "Centropus andamanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2009. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/142327.
- ^ Beavan, RC (July 1867). Newton, Alfred. ed. "The Avifauna of the Andaman Islands". The Ibis (London: John Van Voorst) 3 (IX): 314–334. http://www.archive.org/stream/ibisns03brit#page/321/mode/1up/. "I only procured two specimens, the best of which was sent to the Asiatic Society's Museum, and the other unfortunately got destroyed (from Tytler's notes as quoted by Beavan)"
- ^ Ali, S & SD Ripley (1981). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 3 (2 ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 244–245.
- ^ a b c Rasmussen, Pamela C.; John C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Washington D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Instituion and Lynx Edicions. p. 223. ISBN 84-87334-67-9.
- ^ a b c d Baker, ECS (1927). Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 4 (2 ed.). London: Taylor and Francis. p. 194. http://www.archive.org/stream/BakerFbiBirds4/BakerFBI4#page/n223/mode/1up.
- ^ Blanford, WT (1895). Fauna of Britis India. Birds. Volume 3. London: Taylor and Francis. p. 242. http://www.archive.org/stream/birds00blangoog#page/n260/mode/1up.
- ^ Peters, JL (1964). Check-list of birds of the World. Volume 4. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 69,71. http://www.archive.org/stream/checklistofbirds41940pete#page/69/mode/1up/.
- ^ S. Dillon Ripley and Bruce M. Beehler (1989). "Ornithogeographic Affinities of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands". Journal of Biogeography 16 (4): 323–332. doi:10.2307/2845224.
- ^ Payne, RB (2005). The cuckoos. Oxford University Press. p. 239. ISBN 0198502133.
- ^ Butler, AL. "The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Part 2". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 555–571.
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Centropus
- Birds of India
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