Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in news?
Recently, the Conservancy worker rescues Chestnut winged cuckoo in a busy part of Chennai.
Scientific name– Clamator coromandus.
Family – Cuculidae (Cuckoos).
Taxonomy – It is monotypic (has no recognized subspecies).
Habitat – It is found in wooded areas, mangroves, gardens, and parks, and often prefers dense canopy.
Distribution & Migration –
Breeding range - Himalayan foothills, northern India, China, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Wintering range - Southern India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Migration pattern - Moves southwards in winter, often seen as a passage migrant in peninsular India.
Identification – A distinctive, long-tailed cuckoo with a peaked black crest like a witch's hat, bright orange throat, rusty wings, a black back, and white nape and belly.
Size – It is about 47 cm long.
Behavior –Forages and sings high in dense canopy; rarely seen clearly with all traits visible.
Varied vocalizations– Harsh, raspy, or metallic sounding and include high-pitched “veep-veep” notes, a strident “kooree”, and a lunatic rattling cackle.
Conservation Status –
IUCN - Least Concern
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 - Schedule-II
Threats – It is not globally threatened, but local risks include habitat loss and urban predation during migration.
