Black-faced coucal
| Black-faced coucal | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Cuculiformes |
| Family: | Cuculidae |
| Genus: | Centropus |
| Species: | C. melanops
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| Binomial name | |
| Centropus melanops Lesson, 1830
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The black-faced coucal (Centropus melanops) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the islands of Mindanao, Basilan Dinagat Islands Bohol, Leyte, Biliran and Samar. It is a striking coucal with its cream head contrasted with a black mask and tail and chestnut wings. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.
Description and taxonomy
EBird describes the bird as "A large, long-tailed bird of forest tangles in the lowlands and lower mountains of the southern Philippines. Distinguished by black belly and tail, chestnut wings, cream color from the upper back and chest up to the top of the crown, and a triangular black mask on the face reaching a point at the back of the head. No other similar species in range. Skulking and more often heard than seen. Gives a deep, rapid “wup-wup!” or a lazy, upslurred “woooop!”[2]
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
- P. m mindanensis – Found on Mindanao, Basilan and Dinagat Islands
- P. m. minuta – Found on Bohol, Leyte, Biliran and Samar
Subspecies are weakly differentiated and may possibly lumped to be monotypic.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
It is found in tropical moist lowland forest with dense understory up to 1,200 meters above sea level. Forages in tangled undergrowth and treetops.[3]
IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species but the population is decreasing. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range.
Occurs in a few protected areas like Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Apo and Mount Kitanglad on Mindanao, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bohol and Samar Island Natural Park but actual protection and enforcement from illegal logging and hunting are lax[4]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Centropus melanops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684300A93024020. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684300A93024020.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Black-faced Coucal - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b Payne, Robert B. (2020). "Black-faced Coucal (Centropus melanops), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.blfcou1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ IUCN (1 October 2016). Centropus melanops: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22684300A93024020 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22684300a93024020.en.
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