Photo: Derivative work (crop): Osado Original uploader: D momaya / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-faced Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 67 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Phaenicophaeus
- Species viridirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 67 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-faced Malkoha is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Blue-faced Malkoha is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR s India and Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 67 g, with a wing length of about 13.6 cm and a tail of around 22.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 786,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-faced Malkoha?
The Blue-faced Malkoha is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 67 g.
Where does the Blue-faced Malkoha live?
The Blue-faced Malkoha is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR s India and Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Blue-faced Malkoha belong to?
The Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Blue-faced Malkoha eat?
The Blue-faced Malkoha is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Blue-faced Malkoha migrate?
The Blue-faced Malkoha is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-faced Malkoha endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Blue-faced Malkoha make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-faced Malkoha — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-faced Malkoha's range?
The Blue-faced Malkoha has a mapped global range of about 786,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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