Andaman coucal

The Andaman coucal or brown coucal (Centropus andamanensis) is a species of non-parasitic cuckoo found in the Andamans, Coco and Table Islands. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the greater coucal. It is found mainly in forested habitats and thickly covered gardens.

Andaman coucal
Andaman coucal in North Andaman Island
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Centropus
Species:
C. andamanensis
Binomial name
Centropus andamanensis
Beavan, 1867[2]
Synonyms

Centropus sinensis andamanensis

Description

It is a large coucal, with males being around 380–400 mm (12.6-15.7 inches) and females somewhat larger at 400–420 mm (15.7-16.5 inches) in length. Structurally, it closely resembles the greater coucal (Centropus sinensis), except that its plumage is a fawn brown as opposed to the black with bluish-purple sheen seen in C. sinensis. It has a chestnut rear mantle and wings and the head is pale tawny brown. The mantle and breast grade from pale to dark brown on the belly and vent. The iris is pale brown. The tail is a pale brown at the base and dark violet-brown towards the tip. The tail feathers have conspicuous black shafts.[3] The juvenile shows slight barring on the body, especially on the underside.[4][5][6]

Taxonomy and systematics
Illustration by Joseph Smit (1873)

This species was first described as Centropus andamanensis (toponym after its distribution) by R.C. Tytler, although his notes were published by R.C. Beavan in 1867. Stuart Baker (1927) continued to treat it as a species but Ripley (1961) and Ali and Ripley (1969) included it as a subspecies of Centropus sinensis. This is justified by the treatment of another species with a brown form in the Kangean Islands, Centropus sinensis kangeangensis. Peters considered it doubtful as a subspecies and noted a structural resemblance to the Sri Lankan Centropus chlororhynchus.[7] Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) consider it a valid species on the basis of distinct vocalization and also suggest elevation of the Kangean form and further study of Centropus sinensis.[4][5][8][9]

Distribution and habitat

It is mainly found in the Andamans (at least South, North and associated islets) as well as on the nearby Coco Islands and Table Island, which belong to Myanmar. It is common in forests and in disturbed areas including gardens, forest and edge, mangroves, edges of paddy fields.[5]

Behaviour and ecology

It breeds during the monsoon (May through July). The nest is made of twigs, grass and leaves and is placed well above the ground in a tree. The usual clutch is two or three.[5]

The song is much like that of the greater coucal, consisting of a long series of very deep and resonant hoop notes. The notes however rise abruptly in pitch. It is also known to produce chuckling and grating calls.[4]

Feeds on all kinds of insects, small frogs, crabs and lizards.[10]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Centropus andamanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Beavan, RC (July 1867). Newton, Alfred (ed.). "The Avifauna of the Andaman Islands". The Ibis. London: John Van Voorst. 3 (IX): 314–334. I only procured two specimens, the best of which was sent to the Asiatic Society's Museum, and the other unfortunately got destroyed (from Tytler's notes as quoted by Beavan)
  3. Ali, S & SD Ripley (1981). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 3 (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 244–245.
  4. Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Anderton, John C. (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Washington D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. p. 223. ISBN 84-87334-67-9.
  5. Baker, ECS (1927). Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 4 (2nd ed.). London: Taylor and Francis. p. 194.
  6. Blanford, WT (1895). Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 3. London: Taylor and Francis. p. 242.
  7. Peters, JL (1964). Check-list of birds of the World. Volume 4. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 69,71.
  8. S. Dillon Ripley & Bruce M. Beehler (1989). "Ornithogeographic Affinities of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands". Journal of Biogeography. 16 (4): 323–332. doi:10.2307/2845224.
  9. Payne, RB (2005). The cuckoos. Oxford University Press. p. 239. ISBN 0-19-850213-3.
  10. Butler, AL. "The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Part 2". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 555–571.
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