Green Malkoha

Overview

The green malkoha, also known as the whistling yellowbill, is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. Unlike many of its relatives, it is not a brood parasite and cares for its own young. It is currently listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Plumage features a green tail, wings, and back.
• The species is described as a whistling yellowbill.
• It is an uncommon species that is rarely observed due to its secretive behaviour.

Habitat

It has a widespread distribution down the coast of Eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. The bird inhabits dense forest, riverine forest, and forest edges, typically living in the subcanopy at heights between 8 and 30 metres.

Diet

The green malkoha feeds primarily on insects, particularly caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets, but will also take frogs, slugs, fruit, seeds, and leaves. It forages by moving through tangled vegetation in small hops to snatch prey and often accompanies other birds and squirrels to catch insects they flush out.

Did you know?

During courtship, the male engages in gift giving by presenting prey to the female and feeding her while mounted. The breeding ritual also involves both birds facing each other and wagging their tails from side to side before spreading them.