Lesser Coucal, 2/21/2012

Irritated by a sudden loud firecracker sound, this Lesser Coucal suddenly bursted out of nowhere, perching itself on top of a small bush about 10 meters away from me, when I was on my way home. Seizing this unusual opportunity, I approached carefully, took some shots quickly, and was amazed by its unique outlook and size.






Video

Chinese name:	番鵑
English name:	Lesser Coucal
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Centropus bengalensis
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common
Foods:	Tiny animals, fruits
Habitat:	Woods, bushes
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Appear alone
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 39 cm long. Summer plumage: Most of its body is shining black, while the wings are reddish-brown. Winter plumage: Its body is mostly dark brown. Belly is light yellowish-brown. There are horizontal thin stripes on the head. There are vertical thin stripes on the neck, breast and back, with similar formation on the wings. Subadult plumage: Similar to winter plumage, but the color is lighter. The horizontal yellowish-brown stripes on the wings are wide. Belly is white.
Breeding places:	Original species live in Taiwan, Lanyu, coastal area of South China, Hainan Island, etc. Subspecies live in Philippine, Brunei, India, Myanmar, etc.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	2/21/2012 13:22 pm
Location found:	Beitou District, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes: