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.
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.netis one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Description 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. This is commonly seen in Plathottam, India. So Plathottam is famous for malkohas.
Diet The blue-faced malkoha takes a variety of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats berries.
Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use)
24th of May 2017 Location: Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
I saw quite a few Blue-faced malkohas during my days in Yala. But always in the bushes and the bird was gone very quickly. I managed to get one picture only on the last day.
Blue-faced malkoha - Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
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