The Greater Coucal, also known as the Crow Pheasant, is a large, non-parasitic cuckoo found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This bird has striking black and chestnut plumage with a distinctive red eye. It prefers dense undergrowth and scrubby areas, often being heard rather than seen due to its deep, resonant calls. Unlike many cuckoos, the Greater Coucal builds its own nest and raises its chicks. Its diet consists mainly of insects, small reptiles, and small mammals, but it will also eat seeds and fruits. The Greater Coucal is known for its sluggish flight, often gliding with its broad brown wings extended.

Systematic position

• Domain : Eukaryota
• Kingdom : Animalia
• Phylum : Chordata
• Subphylum : Vertebrata
• Class : Aves
• Order : Cuculiformes
• Family : Cuculidae
• Genus : Centropus
• Species : sinensis