Blue-faced Malkoha

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. Blue-faced Malkoha 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.

Blue-faced Malkoha takes a variety of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats berries.

Reference

• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6