Malkohas are large birds in the cuckoo family Cuculidae, all in the genusPhaenicophaeus. The group name is derived from the Sinhala word for the Red-faced Malkoha; Mal-Koha meaning flower-cuckoo. These are all Asian tropical species. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greekphoiniko- “crimson”, and phaes “eyes” or “face”,[1] referring to the Red-faced Malkoha. However, the ‘œ’ was mistranscribed as ‘æ’
a lovely bird that bird in size and normally with beautiful colors …………… and its loves to hide behind all the leaf .. make it not easy to get expose the shot
1. Raffles’s Malkoha, 棕胸地鹃, 棕胸地鵑, Rhinortha chlorophaea, クリイロバンケンモドキ, CENUK KERAK
2. Red-billed Malkoha, 红嘴地鹃, 紅嘴地鵑, Zanclostomus javanicus, アカハシバンケンモドキ, CENUK API
We spent our morning at the canopy, enjoying many great views of different birds. One was especially memorable—at eye level, feeding slowly instead of just flying past. A lovely Malkoha.
– another common lowland Malkoha with an obvious chestnut breast
#
update 202406
– after ours’ morning mega Pheasant and we waiting at fruiting tree for some good bird .. (we got Black-and-White Bulbul and Chestnut-capped Thrush) this bird came nearby to feed on caterpillar
a not so common Sri Lanka endemic, we only saw or heard it at Sinharaja … and it is moving along with bird wave. Same other Malkoha moving fast along the bushes
– a tough walk (it follow by very heavy rain after we saw this bird at only split second) .. wet, leeches …. and may be time planning for the location
even just split second, the CANON R3 just as I always say “focus monster” i point my lens toward the bird, it lock focus the bird and eye than got this.. no secret.. just the camera found it and take it…
A fairly common coucal found in South Africa, which I’ve seen and photographed multiple times in various locations. However, this was a closer encounter, and I managed to capture a full series of flight shots. The distinctive tail band markings are clearly visible, making it easy to differentiate this species from others.
201. Yellow-billed Malkoha, 苏拉黄嘴地鹃, 蘇拉黃嘴地鵑, Rhamphococcyx calyorhynchus, セレベスバンケンモドキ, Kadalan Sulawesi
A large, thick-billed malkoha, endemic to Sulawesi, where the only Malkoha. Rufous top half and dark bottom half give it the appearance of having been dipped in black paint, which together with long tail and thick red and yellow bill give it an unmistakeable appearance. Found in wooded habitats from the lowlands to the mountains. Follows macaques catching flushed insects. Call, a very distinctive series of sharp, grating notes, that rise, then fall, whilst accelerating and fading at the end. [Ebird]
Day 5 of our Costa Rica birding expedition and we have already photographed 151 species. We have encountered so many incredible birds, including this remarkable, secretive Lesser Ground-Cuckoo. Its behavior reminds me of the other two species I have photographed; it calls and then moves like a ghost—approaching silently, but jumping into the trees to call again once it is alert. What an amazing day and a stunning bird. I am so grateful to our local guide for their expertise and for giving us a second chance to track down this bird.
1. Asian Koel, 噪鹃, 噪鵑, Eudynamys scolopaceus, オニカッコウ, TAHU ASIA
The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus[3][4]) is a member of the cuckooorder of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related Black-billed and Pacific Koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian Koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young. They are unusual among the cuckoos in being largely frugivorous as adults.[5] The name koel is echoic in origin with several language variants. The bird is a widely used symbol in Indian poetry.[6]
One of the most incredible highlights from our trip with a wonderful and lucky group of photographers from Taiwan. While this tiny bird usually stays high in the canopy, this time was different. It landed just 1.5 meters away at eye level, calling out right in front of us. It was a spectacular moment to witness its vibrant violet colors so closely.
While waiting for our main target, a few birds came close, giving us great photo opportunities. Among them was this lovely small cuckoo, which approached us to within 5–10 feet of the ground. It was a pleasure to see it up close, especially as it called loudly.
– another close encounter of this beautiful bird for guests so happy for everyone.
– small cuckoo with correct lighting, the violet so cool
– 客人高兴到极点吧。这么近距离拍这鸟。还要遇上光线好。
– 这鹃蛮小，要在有光线下看那紫。。。真的很美丽
202404, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202402
– while looking at the busy work table, cannot resist to process another picture of this beautiful cuckoo .. look at the “violet” .. wow wow
– 虽然非常忙碌，可是还是决定再放一张这“紫”鸟。近距离看，真的很不一样。
202402, Congkak, Selangor
####
– another day with my buddies, it is a boring morning but excitement happen after simple small stream crossing, sloop walk up .. this bird came down ~8 feet from ground, ~10 feet distance and few minutes for us .. lovely bird but noisy … go out birding is fun
– a very special moment start of 2024, this bird stand ~4-5m from ground and as close as 5m for us and just stand there calling for more than 5 minutes for us. lovely bird and moment
– a casual morning with 2 friends and checking the spot for guests tomorrow and next week. this bird seem stay at same perch for >30 minutes.
– as usual a noisy bird with lovely color
– 一个轻松的早上。这很吵与漂亮的鸟。竟然站了30分钟。
– 这么漂亮颜色的鸟。百看不厌。
202301, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202209
– under the hot sun, we almost call it a day. This bird calling loud and lovely as usual
– 大热中午，几乎要结束美好的·一天。忽然，这鸟大大的叫了几声。
202209, Perdik, Selangor, Malaysia
update 202205
– a bird with really lovely color, never get bore to see it again
– 它的颜色真的很不一样。看几篇都应该不会闷。
2022045, Ulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
#
– congratulations to my buddy, finally got one close and “violet”, we together looking for this bird and photograph this bird >10times over the 10 years. But he always miss the good light to have the “violet” color. finally today this bird give us a good mement and >30GB of photos+videos
3. Asian Emerald Cuckoo, 翠金鹃 , 翠金鵑, Chrysococcyx maculatus, ミドリテリカッコウ, SEWAH-ZAMRUD ASIA
– male with dark blue-nish , female with green , orange head
– one of the most beautiful cuckoo here
– vagrant for Malaysia
update 202601
Back to reality in Malaysia so soon—where the birds are shy, active, and often hidden in dark forest light. But it’s the right season for some special species, including this beautiful African Emerald Cuckoo that has been returning to Taiping for years. Everyone is trying to capture it in their own way, and I was lucky to get a few nice shots as it flew toward us, taken with the Canon R6 Mark III.
这么快就回到马来西亚，重新面对现实——鸟儿害羞、动作快，又常在光线昏暗的环境中活动。好在现在是观鸟的好季节，其中就有这只美丽的绿咬鹃，多年来每年都会回到太平。大家都想拍出不同的角度，我很幸运，在它飞向我们的时候用 Canon R6 Mark III 拍到了几张好照片。
202601, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
#####
update 202206
– one of the most beautiful cuckoo seen, male with the vivid, electric green and female with bright metallic green. You must see it with naked eye to know how special the color.
4. Little Bronze-Cuckoo, 棕胸金鹃, 棕胸金鵑, Chrysococcyx minutillus, アカメテリカッコウ, SEWAH-DAUN BIASA
– a common small cuckoo normally found near mangrove area
– red eye ring
update 2020 April 6
Little Bronze Cuckoo,棕胸金鵑
5. Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, 霍氏金鵑, 霍氏金鹃,Chrysococcyx basalis, マミジロテリカッコウ, SEWAH-DAUN AUSTRALIA
– a “summer” migrant , which migrate from south (Australia) … which is winter on south .. found near garden, mangrove area
Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, 霍氏金鵑
6. Plaintive Cuckoo, 八声杜鹃, 八聲杜鵑, Cacomantis merulinus, ヒメカッコウ, MATINAK BIASA
– a most common cuckoo, it can be called even at night …
– male with gray head, orange belly and below, female with barring
update 202101
- a common cuckoo of Malaysia - male bird with grey head and wing. Rufous on front - calling loud and I even can hear it when I am driving so decide to stop my car checking where are the bird and one of them just stand not far away .. Birding Photography with Fujifilm X-T4 | liewwk Nature https://www.liewwkphoto.com/blog/?p=7438Cuculidae series: Cuckoo, Ground Cuckoo | 杜鹃科 | liewwk Nature https://www.liewwkphoto.com/blog/?p=2281
######
– not that rare but sometime confuse with plaintive cuckoo female ..
update 202503
It was a laid-back birding session on day one. We first heard the bird calling from a distance, and soon after, it flew right above us, giving everyone plenty of time to snap photos from different angles.
– 2024 February seem very good for many different species of cuckoo, included this one almost seen any where with some good picture opportunity
– 2024 2月几乎是杜鹃鸟季节。今年几乎哪都看到，听到这鸟叫。还可以拍到不错的照片。
202402, Congkak, Selangor
####
update 202402
– it can be the best season for this cuckoo, saw it and photograph it for last few weeks until now for quite low and close … especially this bird just stay there more than 30minutes for low and close .. calling non stop too
8. Indian Cuckoo, 四聲杜鵑, 四声杜鹃, Cuculus micropterus,セグロカッコウ, SEWAH BIASA
– one of the common hear cuckoo on winter migrant season
– obvious yellow eye ring, front barring
Indian Cuckoo, 四聲杜鵑
9. Sunda Cuckoo, 巽他杜鹃, 巽他杜鵑, Cuculus lepidus, スンダツツドリ, SEWAH GUNUNG MELAYU
update 202605
It is cuckoo month. Our birding tours from April to May have encountered an incredible number of cuckoos. Even the notoriously shy cuckoos are showing themselves out in the open at both Fraser’s Hill and Taman Negara National Park (KNP). It is an absolute delight to watch them in plain view and listen to their clear calls.
This spot is now one of the best in Borneo for seeing a wide variety of montane endemics and non-endemics all in one place. While some birds do come for feeding, many are also drawn by natural food sources like moths and insects. This particular bird seems to show up often—we hear it almost every visit and spot it on most trips too.
A cuckoo that is often heard but rarely seen gave us a special moment this time—it came close and was fully visible. A truly lucky encounter!
一只经常听到但难得一见的杜鹃，这次竟然靠近我们，展现了它的全貌。真是一个幸运的时刻！
202412, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
– sub-montane/montane cuckoo … always hear but not seen
Sunda Cuckoo, 巽他杜鵑
10. Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, 婆罗鹰鹃, 婆羅鷹鵑, Hierococcyx bocki, クロジュウイチ, SEWAH-TEKUKUR GUNUNG
– sub-montane/montane Hawk-cuckoo … used to call loud dawn and dusk
update 202502
As usual, this bird is always calling but not easy to spot. However, this time it stayed long enough for all of us to get a good view.
像往常一样，这只鸟总是鸣叫，但不容易看到。不过这次它停留了很久，让我们都能清楚地观赏。
202502, KNP, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202410
– a birds that very common heard at both Fraser Hill & KNP .. but it can be very difficult to have good view .. it can be confuse with some Hawk Cuckoo
– when we on the way to Breakfast, sudden saw this bird stand so nice with backlight .. got the bird real close view
– 在福隆港，神山都很常的听到。可是要见到好，很不容易。
– 在我们去吃早餐的途中，竟然看到这鸟站很近。拍的还不错吧，大逆光。
202410, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202402
– before we heading to lowland forest, saw it perch very low and immediate stop the car and rush everyone out to have good view but I miss the best eye-contact moment
– 在我们去另一个点时，看到这一只鸟站低。立刻叫停车，叫全部人下车。可是我也错过它望过来那一刻。
202402, Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
#####
update 202309
– another 1 out of 6 targets here, but this bird very shy keep flying around and finally it stop low and open for us. 3 more to go …
– sometimes can be confused with other Hawk-Cuckoo found here.
– Adult has gray upperparts, streaked white underparts, and a long tail with thick dark bars.
– Gives two distinct songs, a high “kiwit!” and a rapid-fire series of piping notes.
update 202409
– a bird always making call near forest edge, this year seem active bit too early ? Trying to looking for a target for my buddy but the target not sight but few good birds for good photo. Included this bird stay open and close for us
– another not so lazy morning birding, 7km walk with my ~10kg gear
Before calling it a day, this bird comes down low and keeps making call, feeding caterpillar…
15. Sunda Brush Cuckoo, 锈胸丛杜鹃, 銹胸叢杜鵑, Cacomantis sepulcralis, チャムネヒメカッコウ, MATINAK DADA JINGGA BIASA
– grey head, orange front
– uncommon resident
update 202503
Another change since the last update: the Brush Cuckoo is now classified as the Sunda Brush Cuckoo. It is easily recognizable by its gray head and “rusty” breast, though it can sometimes be confused with the Plaintive Cuckoo.
– a bird that always heard and sometime just fly too close and hide from us to be seen or photograph.. Brush or Rusty breasted ? now it call Brush in eBird
– something happen in the group and make the whole schedule late but still trying to do some late evening birding at GAP, Fraser Hill. Not bad for short time have Green Broadbill, Brush Cuckoo, Rufous Bellied Swallow, Black Laughingthrush etc …
16. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, 乌鹃, 烏鵑, CuculidaeSurniculus, オウチュウカッコウ, SEWAH-SAWAI BIASA
update 202501
A common winter visitor here, but for the very first time, it came down to the Pitta feeding spot. Such a stunning dark-colored bird, especially when seen up close.
19. Greater Coucal, 褐翅鸦鹃, 褐翅鴉鵑, Centropus sinensis, オオバンケン, Bubut Besar
– pretty common found near the forest edge, open grassland
– wing shinning brown, and overall dark blue-black. with red-eye
– 在森林周边与开阔的地方非常普通。
update 202104
– I am in progress testing the Canon EF lens on Fujifilm Camere with a Fringer adapter. so I spend few days at the forest edge waiting for any birds that flying past and trying to use this setup to capture any pictures
– this bird seems near me and I managed to capture a series of it flying toward me.
– 这几天我在森林周边的开阔地方。试佳能镜头，富士机身, Fringer EF-FX pro 。任何鸟飞过我都 试试看看可以用区域对焦+追焦。
– large colorful ground bird normally very secretive which more often heard than seen
– iridescent purple-green wings, long dark tail, finely barred underparts, black head, and pale blue-green face and bill (Ebird)
– 大，紫青蓝，非常神秘的婆罗洲特有种。通常都是听到见不到的鸟。
– just got back from long Borneo tour, this bird appear last moment but everyone happy with the long and good view
– 刚完成婆罗洲团。这鸟当然是最被瞩目的鸟之一。它在最后一刻让我们看的完完全全。站了10多分钟。
update 202510
“There it is!” — I find myself saying this every time I see this bird, forgetting that “there” means nothing unless everyone is looking from the same angle, direction, and height. Fortunately, the bird stayed long enough for us all to get a good view. Truly a wonderful bird to observe!
Lucky moment again! We spotted a pair walking from left to right, then back again before climbing up a tree to check us out. Everyone got a look—some with a perfect view, others like me with a slightly blocked one. Still, the excitement was real! Just sharing a memorable shot from our March visit with another group to this amazing and beautiful place – Kinabatangan River.
– not really like 2023, miss and hit this bird on 2024… but it gave us a long, close view last week .. it is ~15m from us for more than 30s full open view.
– wonderful moment while looking for this bird so long open on tree calling non stop .. it is total excitement to get one in the wild ..
– 没几个人感受到我们的兴奋，这么害羞的鸟站哪叫很久。在野拍的到这么一只鸟是多么兴奋。
#####
#####
update 202310
– off season, finally home to look at all the pictures… this was one of the most amazing moment with my group .. special bird, special moment and special peoples …
– just another special moment of this Borneo endemic, it is happy for everyone to managed to have good view of this bird think more than 20 of us. After ours boat spot it and we told other 3 boats all still managed to have a good view of it.
– not sure my note correct or not, but seem the breeding season ? within 10 days, 3 pair spot and reasonable tame (still shy when trying to take photo)
– Hoi Ling, finally I got the head of the bird .. but no tail yet
– this is one best moment of 2023 or my life for this bird. This particular bird stand 20m above ground and for more than 1.5 hours ! (after we spend 30minutes and back breakfast and told Dean – another bird group.. and the bird still there !)
– just another short targets trip to Sabah, managed to have almost all main targets (except Bulwer Pheasant) included this special Borneo endemic. We had good time >3 minutes to have good view but still little block from my angle .. any how am happy to have light hit on its’ body and show the color of its’ body
– it show so well with 2 stand close and open, but need to show other to have a view so finally I end up with this best view picture I had .. any one I really like to see it shy with us
– just another bird encounter during the Borneo tour, very high success rate this year so far and no one seem believe me this is a difficult bird as we got it mostly day1 morning.
– lucky customer to have 2 birds with good view and photos in close range and long
– a bird that after Bornean bristlehead and Bornean Gibbon which make our almost best Photography tour for 2022 so far
– 非常幸运的客人，拍到婆罗洲棘头鵙后再拍到婆罗洲地鹃。2只全看到，1只跑来跑去。
202207, Sabah, Malaysia
More Youtube video : Cuculidae series : Cuckoo, Ground Cuckoo | 杜鹃科 | liewwk Nature
######
51. Bay Coucal, 苏拉鸦鹃, 蘇拉鴉鵑, Centropus celebensis, セレベスバンケン, Bubut Sulawesi
A reddish-brown cuckoo with a long, often shaggy-looking tail. Juvenile shows a pale eye and a paler breast and throat than adults. The species favors vine tangles within forest and forest edge in lowlands and foothills, where it is usually encountered singly or in pairs. The entirely brown body, lacking black, separates this species from Lesser Coucal. Song is a series of “hoot” notes that often encourages other nearby coucals to respond. Alarm call is a harsh, short rasping “burr.” [ebird]
– as other coucal, shy, moving in bushes … very coucal call alike
– 有如其他鸦鹃，害羞，喜欢活动在草丛里。
update 202512
This is a very common but typically shy species in Sulawesi. Fortunately, we had a few great moments where it took flight in open view, allowing us the rare chance to capture some nice bird-in-flight photos of this elusive bird.
– a very beautiful Ground-Cuckoo and it is as beautiful as the Bornean Ground-Cuckoo. it is shy, move fast on ground
– 非常漂亮的地鹃，就如婆罗洲地鹃一样的美。通常害羞+在地上快速走动
update 202412
Before I get busy again, I’d like to share an unforgettable moment from our photography trip to Sumatra. On Day 1, one of our members faced a “viewfinder” issue with the Canon R5 Mark II. While everything in the viewfinder appeared blurry, the AF points were still visible, and remarkably, every captured image was perfectly focused on the right subject—especially the bird’s eyes!
Shooting without a clear view through the viewfinder is no easy task, yet it’s incredible how this member managed to capture all the key targets with perfect bird-eye focus, relying entirely on the camera’s animal eye detection system. This even included the rare and stunning ground cuckoo.
在我再次忙碌之前，想分享我们苏门答腊摄影之旅中一个难忘的时刻。第一天，我们的一位队员的佳能 R5 Mark II 遇到了“取景器”问题。尽管取景器中的画面完全是模糊的，但自动对焦点仍然可见，令人惊讶的是，所有拍摄的照片都完美地对焦在目标上——尤其是鸟的眼睛！
– Last year, after searching for this beautiful bird for two days with another group, we were rewarded with an incredible view. From that experience, we learned that waiting patiently wasn’t enough—we needed to act quickly. Determined, we formed another group to return a year later. This time, on the first day, we only heard the bird but couldn’t catch a glimpse of it. However, on the second day, our efforts paid off with an amazing sighting of this rare and stunning endemic species of Sumatra. Happy for the group!
– no one can explain how excited we were when we got this super good view of this bird after 2 full morning waiting and this beautiful bird give us amazing view at the “not common” spot
– 很难讲诉我们当时的心情，等了2天后。这鸟在“鸟点”外出现。真的太美，兴奋。
20231225, Sg Penuh, Sumatra.
####
#####
update 202312
– one of ours Sumatra birding main target
update 202312
– one of ours Sumatra birding main target
– we spend 1 morning at “promising spot” but bird no show, and spend next morning again but just heard it 2 times. But luckily we make decision to walk around and finally with the Dwi sharing the behavior of the bird… manage to have good view and picture.
53. Black-billed Koel, 黑嘴噪鹃, 黑嘴噪鵑, Eudynamys melanorhynchus, スラウェシオニカッコウ, Tuwur Sulawesi
A commonly heard but very shy bird, with a call resembling that of the Malaysian Asian Koel—though its “woo” is slightly shorter.
这是一种常听见却非常害羞的鸟，它的叫声与马来西亚的亚洲噪鹃相似，但“喔”的声音稍微短一些。
update 202505
It was a dull and cloudy day when we first heard the call a few times and caught a glimpse of the bird flying, but no one managed a photo. Fortunately, the bird began circling near us, and while everyone searched for a perch shot, I took the opportunity to capture it in flight.
I’ve visited Halmahera a few times, and this species has always been a challenge to observe properly—my first sighting was just a quick flyby across the road. But today, luck was truly on our side. Despite expecting a full day of rain, we ended up getting great views of Kingfishers, Pitta, Fruit-Dove, and this special bird. It stayed in the open for a long time, and the close view made it look even more stunning.
A small, greenish cuckoo. The male has barred flanks, white flecking on the wing, white patches in front of and behind the eye, and a distinctly red eye surrounded by a red eye-ring. The bronzy-green female has a diagnostic white patch in front of the eye, a plain back, and white patches in the wings. This common resident and migrant is not a habitat specialist, but it prefers riverine and wetland areas where its preferred brood-parasite hosts, weavers and bishops, are common. The distinctive call is a loud, rising, high-pitched “deee-deee-deee-deee-dederik”. [EBird]
A very beautiful and common cuckoo, often heard in almost any environment. However, it rarely perches because its calls attract other birds, especially weavers, that chase it away. The best chances to spot it are while it’s in flight, and we were fortunate to see it flying past us many times.
