Green Cochoa
Cochoa viridis
A gorgeously colored but highly elusive and uncommon bird found in extensive hill forests, particularly in areas with well-shaded ravines, gullies, and streams. Slow-moving and restricted to the canopy, where it blends in with the foliage. If seen, the green body is most obvious, followed by the black and silvery-blue bands on the wing. A better look would reveal a sky-blue head with a thin black eye-stripe and a pale blue tail. Listen for its song, a high, thin, even-sounding whistle, often given repeatedly but difficult to pin down.
Identification
This Himalayan thrush is moss green. The male has a blue crown, blue wings and tail with a broad black band on the tail. The female has a more greenish body with some rusty spots on the wing coverts. The secondaries and tertiaries have the base of the outer webs yellowish brown with very narrow blue edging, unlike in the male. In some plumages there is a white collar on the sides of the neck. This form was once described as a new species Cochoa rothschildi. First year birds have dark shaft streaks on the body feathers.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cochoa viridis
- Authority
- Hodgson, 1836
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Cochoa
Range and habitat
The green cochoa is found in Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Bhutan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. They make seasonal movements that are not well understood. Their distribution in winter in India is unclear as the species is found only in summer. An old record from Uttaranchal (Nainital) is the westernmost record, and no recent records exist from Nepal. Most records are east of northwest Bengal.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The green cochoa is usually seen in pairs or small groups sitting in tall trees. They usually feed close to the ground, on mollusks, insects and berries. They sometimes launch aerial sallies to capture insects. This species breeds in summer, and the nest is much like that of the purple cochoa, but is usually placed close to water. Both parents take turns incubating. The song is a thin and clear feeeee that dies away. Calls include a short high-pitched pok and harsh notes.<p>The glossy eggs are ellipsoidal and densely speckled.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sharp-tailed Ibis
Cercibis oxycerca
A medium-sized wading bird, mostly black with a red bill and legs. Relatively long tail projection imparts a long-bodied appearance which is enhanced by its short legs. At close range, note bare red throat and orbital skin. Occurs in open wetlands and seasonally flooded savannas, usually in pairs or small groups, probing in mud, shallow water, or soft ground for invertebrates and fish. Unusual, far-carrying call is a single, horn-like note, often given in duet by pairs, with one higher-pitched than the other; the overall effect is like the braying of a donkey. Larger and longer-tailed than Bare-faced Ibis, much more vocal, and does not occur in large groups.
Plain-pouched Hornbill
Rhyticeros subruficollis
Medium-sized hornbill; resembles a smaller version of Wreathed Hornbill. Black with a white tail. Male has a white head and neck and a yellow throat pouch, while females have a blue pouch. Separated from Wreathed by lack of grooves on bill, small size, and lack of a black patch on the pouch (hence “plain-pouched”). Inhabits lowland forests; frequently detected flying powerfully overhead giving short, high-pitched calls. Often encountered in flocks.
Island Whistler
Pachycephala phaionota
A rather drab, medium-sized bird of wooded habitats on small islands. Gray head, white throat, brown back and very pale brown underparts with slightly darker brown smudges on the sides of the chest. Very similar to Brown-backed Whistler but does not co-occur. No similar species in range. Gives a jumbled, whistled song, interspersed with repeated, typical whistler “whip!” notes. Call, a sharp descending “jip!”.
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