Photo: Luis V. Limchiu / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Coucal
Centropus unirufus
Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus) — 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 Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 184 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 Centropus
- Species unirufus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 184 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rufous Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Luzon group (Philippines).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 184 g, with a wing length of about 16.8 cm and a tail of around 20.6 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 80,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Coucal?
The Rufous Coucal is a large bird that weighs around 184 g.
Where does the Rufous Coucal live?
The Rufous Coucal is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Luzon group (Philippines), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Coucal belong to?
The Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Rufous Coucal eat?
The Rufous Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Coucal migrate?
The Rufous Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous Coucal 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 Rufous Coucal make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Coucal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous Coucal's range?
The Rufous Coucal has a mapped global range of about 80,000 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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