Red-faced Malkoha
A species of Typical malkohas Scientific name : Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus Genus : Typical malkohas
Red-faced Malkoha, A species of Typical malkohas
Botanical name: Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
Genus: Typical malkohas
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Charley Hesse TROPICAL BIRDING 
Description
This is a large species at 46 cm with a long graduated tail. Its back is dark green, and the uppertail is green edged with white. The belly and undertail are white, the latter being barred black. The crown and throat are black, and the lower face white. There is a large red patch around the eye and the bill is green. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are much duller. The red-faced malkoha takes a variety of insects including caterpillars, giant stick insects, mantises and small vertebrates such as lizard. It occasionally may eat berries but this needs confirmation. Unlike most cuckoos, this is a quiet species, making only the odd soft grunt. 
Size
47 cm
Feeding Habits
Red-faced Malkoha predominantly consumes insects including caterpillars, mantids, grasshoppers, moths, and cicadas, even preying on giant stick insects. Occasionally, red-faced Malkoha may eat fruits, berries, and small lizards. Red-faced Malkoha forages from treetops to understorey, often in mixed-species flocks, and shows agile movement while feeding.
Habitat
Red-faced Malkoha predominantly inhabits dense forests, favoring both damp, lush areas in wet zones and riverine woodlands in drier regions. This species tends to shy away from cultivated landscapes and is more frequently encountered in lower elevations, as forest fragmentation appears to limit its presence in higher altitudes, once common up to 1700 meters. Despite being part of diverse geographical forested zones, recent patterns suggest a shift towards more lowland territories.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Behavior
They are found in nearly half of the mixed-species foraging flocks in the Sinharaja area.
Distribution Area
It is endemic to Sri Lanka although some old records have apparently erroneously referred to its presence in southern India. According to Baker (1934), it is found in the 'South of Travancore, where it was obtained by Stewart together with its nests'. Later, Biddulph reported a red-faced malkoha in Madurai district, southern Tamil Nadu. Thilo Hoffmann later pointed out that this record would not stand up to a modern records committee, and it is now best disregarded. The presence of red-faced malkoha in the island is largely confined to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the surrounding vegetation, which is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world.
Photo By Charley Hesse TROPICAL BIRDING 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Cuckoos and Relatives Family
Cuckoos Genus
Typical malkohas Species
Red-faced Malkoha 
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