Photo: Jim Scarff / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue Malkoha
Ceuthmochares aereus
Blue Malkoha (Ceuthmochares aereus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue Malkoha (Ceuthmochares aereus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 65.8 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 Ceuthmochares
- Species aereus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 65.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue Malkoha is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Blue Malkoha is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue Malkoha (Ceuthmochares aereus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 65.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.7 cm and a tail of around 18.5 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 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Malkoha?
The Blue Malkoha is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 65.8 g.
Where does the Blue Malkoha live?
The Blue Malkoha is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Blue Malkoha belong to?
The Blue Malkoha (Ceuthmochares aereus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Blue Malkoha eat?
The Blue Malkoha is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Blue Malkoha migrate?
The Blue Malkoha is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue 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 Malkoha make?
1 real field recording of the Blue Malkoha — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue Malkoha's range?
The Blue Malkoha has a mapped global range of about 4 million 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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