Yellowbill
Encyclopedia
The Yellowbill is a species of cuckoo
in the Cuculidae family. The species is sometimes known as the Green Malkoha. It is monotypic
within the genus Ceuthmochares. There are three subspecies that display some differences in plumage
colouration; all subspecies have a greyish belly, head and throat but C. aereus aereus has a greenish and blue tail, wings and back, C. aereus australis has a green tail, wings and back and C. aereus flavirostris has a blue tail, wings and back. All subspecies have a heavy yellow bill which gives the species its name. The species has sometimes been split into two species, a western species the Chattering Yellowbill or Blue Malkoha C. aereus and the eastern species Whistling Yellowbill or Green Malkoha, C. australis.
It has a widespread distribution across the tropical evergreen forest
s of Africa
, including West and Central Africa, and the down the coast of Eastern Africa from Kenya
to South Africa
. It ranges from dense forest to riverine forest and forest edges, with one small population in Ethiopia
living in arid bushland. In the forest it typically lives in the subcanopy at between 8–30 m.
The Yellowbill feeds primarily on insect
s, particularly caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets; it will also take frogs, slugs, fruit, seeds and leaves. It moves through the tangled vegetation with a series of small hops, snatching prey as it travels. It will accompany other birds and squirrel
s, taking the insects flushed by them.
Unlike some other cuckoos the Yellowbill is not a brood parasite
, instead it cares for its own young. The breeding behaviour has been observed for the southern subspecies (australis), the male and female face each other, first wagging their tails from side to side, then spreading them. The male also engages in gift giving, presenting the female with prey, then mounting her and feeding her while mounted. Two white and creamy eggs are laid in a nest that is a rough mass of sticks suspended around 2–5 m above the ground. Both parents care for the young.
The Yellowbill is an uncommon species and rarely observed due to its secretive behaviour. However it is not considered threatened, and is listed as least concern
by the IUCN.
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
in the Cuculidae family. The species is sometimes known as the Green Malkoha. It is monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Ceuthmochares. There are three subspecies that display some differences in plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
colouration; all subspecies have a greyish belly, head and throat but C. aereus aereus has a greenish and blue tail, wings and back, C. aereus australis has a green tail, wings and back and C. aereus flavirostris has a blue tail, wings and back. All subspecies have a heavy yellow bill which gives the species its name. The species has sometimes been split into two species, a western species the Chattering Yellowbill or Blue Malkoha C. aereus and the eastern species Whistling Yellowbill or Green Malkoha, C. australis.
It has a widespread distribution across the tropical evergreen forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, including West and Central Africa, and the down the coast of Eastern Africa from Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It ranges from dense forest to riverine forest and forest edges, with one small population in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
living in arid bushland. In the forest it typically lives in the subcanopy at between 8–30 m.
The Yellowbill feeds primarily on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, particularly caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets; it will also take frogs, slugs, fruit, seeds and leaves. It moves through the tangled vegetation with a series of small hops, snatching prey as it travels. It will accompany other birds and squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s, taking the insects flushed by them.
Unlike some other cuckoos the Yellowbill is not a brood parasite
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
, instead it cares for its own young. The breeding behaviour has been observed for the southern subspecies (australis), the male and female face each other, first wagging their tails from side to side, then spreading them. The male also engages in gift giving, presenting the female with prey, then mounting her and feeding her while mounted. Two white and creamy eggs are laid in a nest that is a rough mass of sticks suspended around 2–5 m above the ground. Both parents care for the young.
The Yellowbill is an uncommon species and rarely observed due to its secretive behaviour. However it is not considered threatened, and is listed as least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by the IUCN.