Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Cuckoos & Turacos

Short-toed Coucal

Centropus rectunguis

Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Indonesia Birds of Malaysia Birds of Thailand

By family

Cuckoos of Indonesia Cuckoos of Malaysia Cuckoos of Thailand

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The Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 238 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
Genus Centropus
Species rectunguis

Where it lives

Malay Pen., Sumatra and Borneo

South & Southeast Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 238 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Cuculidae
Order: Cuculiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Short-toed 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 Short-toed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen., Sumatra and Borneo.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 238 g, with a wing length of about 16 cm and a tail of around 17.8 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Short-toed Coucal — Call

Recorded by Ingkayut Sa-ar Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Short-toed Coucal?

The Short-toed Coucal is a large bird that weighs around 238 g.

Where does the Short-toed Coucal live?

The Short-toed Coucal is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen., Sumatra and Borneo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Short-toed Coucal belong to?

The Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.

What does the Short-toed Coucal eat?

The Short-toed Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Short-toed Coucal migrate?

The Short-toed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Short-toed Coucal endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Short-toed Coucal make?

1 real field recording of the Short-toed 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 Short-toed Coucal's range?

The Short-toed Coucal has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².