Red-faced Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
Large, spectacular malkoha of moist lowland and mid-hill forest. Unmistakable with bright red face, yellowish bill, white belly and long, white-tipped tail. Found in the dense canopy of tall trees where it feeds on insects and small vertebrates. Normally found in pairs and often associates with mixed flocks usually led by Orange-billed Babblers. It can be hard to see despite its flashy appearance. Usually silent but does soft clucking and a call like static noise.
Identification
This is a large species at 46 cm with a long graduated tail. Its back is dark green, and the uppertail is green edged with white. The belly and undertail are white, the latter being barred black. The crown and throat are black, and the lower face white. There is a large red patch around the eye and the bill is green. Sexual dimorphism present where males are having dark brown iris and females are with creamy white iris. Juveniles are with much duller plumage.<p>The red-faced malkoha takes a variety of insects including caterpillars, giant stick insects, mantises and small vertebrates such as lizard. It occasionally may eat berries but this needs confirmation.<p>Unlike most cuckoos, this is a quiet species, making only the odd soft grunt.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
- Authority
- (Pennant, 1769)
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Phaenicophaeus
Range and habitat
It is endemic to Sri Lanka although some old records have apparently erroneously referred to its presence in southern India. According to Baker (1934), it is found in the 'South of Travancore, where it was obtained by Stewart together with its nests'. Later, Biddulph reported a red-faced malkoha in Madurai district, southern Tamil Nadu. Thilo Hoffmann later pointed out that this record would not stand up to a modern records committee, and it is now best disregarded.<p>The presence of red-faced malkoha in the island is largely confined to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the surrounding vegetation, which is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. The red-faced malkoha is a bird of dense forests, where it can be difficult to see despite its size and colour. It prefers low country wet zone forests, sub-montane forests, montane forests and riverine forests in few dry zone forests in Sri Lanka. It can be seen in most of the largest rain forest patches in the wet zone and in dry zone Yala National Park, Lahugala National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park and Udawalawe National Park.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
They are found in nearly half of the mixed-species foraging flocks in the Sinharaja area.Most of the individuals of Red-faced Malkohas which participate in the mixed-species bird flocks tend to prefer in the front of the flock. There is a high probability to see this cryptic bird in the flock if you observe the front half of the flock.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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