Blue-faced Malkoha நீலமுக செண்பகம்

Common name: Blue-faced Malkoha

Tamil Name: நீலமுக செண்பகம்

Scientific name: Phaenicophaeus viridirostris

Photo credit: Manoj Kumar

Photo shot at: Backyard of Cauvery hostel, BDU.

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. This is a bird of open forests and scrub jungle. It nests in a thorn bush, the typical clutch being two, sometimes three, eggs. This is 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. They feed on variety of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats berries.