- Green-billed Coucal
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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, 1849Synonyms 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 Culture
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]
References
- ^ Wijesinghe, Martin (1999). "Nesting of Green-billed Coucals Centropus chlororhynchos in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka" (PDF). Forktail 15: 43–45. http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/15pdfs/Wijesinghe-Coucal.pdf.
- ^ Anonymous (1998). "Vernacular Names of the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent" (PDF). Buceros 3 (1): 53–109. Archived from the original on 1 April 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100401015111/http://www.bnhsenvis.nic.in/pdf/vol%203%20(1).pdf.
- ^ http://www.birdtheme.org/country/srilanka.html
- BirdLife International (2004). Centropus chlororhynchus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable, and the criteria used
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List vulnerable species
- Centropus
- Birds of Asia
- Birds of Sri Lanka
- Animals described in 1849
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