Blue-faced Malkoha

Taxobox
name = Blue-faced Malkoha
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Cuculiformes
familia = Cuculidae
genus = "Phaenicophaeus"
species = "P. viridirostris"
binomial = "Phaenicophaeus viridirostris"
binomial_authority = (Jerdon, 1840)

The Blue-faced Malkoha, "Phaenicophaeus viridirostris ", is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin.

It is restricted to Sri Lanka and southern India. The Blue-faced Malkoha is a bird of open forests and scrub jungle. It nests in a thorn bush, the typical clutch being two, sometimes three, eggs.

This is a largish species at 39 cm. Its back and head are dark green, and the uppertail is green edged with white. The throat and belly are lighter green. There is a large blue patch around the eye and the bill is green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller and barred above.

The Blue-faced Malkoha takes a variety of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats berries.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "Birds of India" by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6