Species Fact Profile: Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)

                                            Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha

Phaenicophaeus curvirostris (Shaw, 1810)

Range: Southeast Asia, Philippines, Indonesia

Habitat:  Tropical Lowland Rainforest, Mangrove Forest

Diet: Small Vertebrates (Lizards, Frogs), Insects, Crabs  

Social Grouping: Pairs

Reproduction: Unlike other members of the cuckoo family, this species builds its own nests and raises its own young.  Breeding season varies across range.  Both parents build a cup-shaped nest of twigs and leaves and incubate the 2-3 eggs for two weeks.  Young cared for by both parents, fledge at 11 days.

Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern

•       Body length 42-49 centimeters.  Large, curved beak has a pale upper mandible and dark lower one.  There is a bare patch of red skin around the eye.  Head is grey, wings are dark green, fading to a light blue with age.  The underparts and rump are chestnut color.  Both sexes look alike, though the male has blue eyes while those of the female are yellow
•       Six subspecies recognized from across range.  Nominate is from Java, where the species was first described
•       Genus name translates from the ancient Greek for "red face," the species name from the Latin for "curved beak"
•       Population appears to be stable, though may decline due to loss of habitat from deforestation