Monday 15 August 2016

Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis)

OTHER NAMES: Greater Green-billed Malkoha, Large Green-billed Malkoha
Latin Etymology: Phaenicophaeus ("crimson shining") tristis ("sad")
Adult Green-billed Malkoha (subspecies P. t. saliensat Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Phaenicophaeus tristis saliens
Weight: 114g  /  Length: 56cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Malkohas are a group of exclusively tropical-Asian non-parasitic Cuckoos with seemingly a more omnivorous diet than the Cuckoo species of Europe - the word itself coming from the Sinhala language of Sri-Lanka and means "Flower Cuckoo".  As for the green-billed malkoha in particular, the name is a little misleading in as far as having a green bill is actually a fairly common feature within the family. More distinctive is that is is larger than the other family members in the region and has a comparatively plain plumage of greys and blue-greens.

Related Species:
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genugs: Phaenicophaeus
Subspecies: P. t. tristis, P. t. saliens, P. t. hainanus, P. t. longicaudatus, P. t. elongatus, P. t. kangeangensis 

 - Sighting Locations -
CAMBODIA - Khmer - តុកកាតូ 
A fairly common resident..
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIPOne at Prek Toal,
MALAYSIA - Malay - Cenuk Besar 
A fairly common and widespread resident.
 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird sighted in the Genting Highlands

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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