| Rufous coucal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Cuculiformes |
| Family: | Cuculidae |
| Genus: | Centropus |
| Species: | C. unirufus |
| Binomial name | |
| Centropus unirufus (Cabanis & Heine, 1863) | |
The rufous coucal (Centropus unirufus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Luzon and proximate islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Along with the Philippine coucal, Black-faced coucal and the critically endangered Black-hooded coucal, it is one of the 4 endemic coucals.
Description
Ebird describes this as "A large, long-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest tangles and bamboo in the northern Philippines. Sometimes follows mixed-species flocks. Distinguished by uniform rufous plumage with a greenish-yellow bill and an orange eye-ring which is elongated at the back. Juvenile Rough-crested malkoha is somewhat similar, but Rufous Coucal is more rufous and lacks the white-tipped tail. Voice includes a shrieking, upslurred “joo-week!” and sharp “wik” notes, sometimes given quickly, even frantically.
Further work should be done on this species' taxonomy as it is generally believed that its behaviour and appearance are more similar to that of a Malkoha rather than a Coucal.
Ecology and behavior
Not much is known about its diet and breeding habits. It is pressumed to feed on insects. It is the only coucal in the country that forms large groups of up to 20 individuals. Forages in thick tangled vines and bamboo.
Habitat and conservation status
Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest where it prefers areas with dense undergrowth and tangles,
It is currently classified as near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but its population is said to be declining. Its threats are mainly habitat loss due to deforestation for lumber, mining and farmlands. There are no known targeted conservation actions for this bird, but it will indirectly benefit from the conservation of other North Luzon species like the Critically Endangered Isabela oriole.
It occurs in a few protected areas such as Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Bataan National Park but despite this legal protection, enforcement is lax and these areas continue to be deforested.
References
- BirdLife International (2017). "Centropus unirufus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22684306A111308785. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22684306A111308785.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- "Rufous Coucal - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- Payne, Robert B. (2020). "Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rufcou1.01. ISSN 2771-3105.
- IUCN (2016-10-01). Centropus unirufus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22684306A111308785 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-1.rlts.t22684306a111308785.en.
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