Friends in My Garden- 55

Greater Coucal- 2

Sitting on my parapet

My Second post on Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant (Centropus sinensis).
These regular visitors to my garden are not much scared of my presence, as the pictures show.

Greater Coucals are as big as a crow, with reddish brown wings and unmissable red eyes. They are found in wide range of habitats from jungle to urban gardens and are residents of Indian subcontinent. These birds forage on the ground or among the foliage for insects, lizards etc.

During breeding season, they appear in pairs.
Greater coucal has a deep resonant “khoomp-khoomp-khoomp…” sound. In the early mornings I can hear a pair calling out, one responding to the other.

The deep calls are associated with superstitious beliefs of spirits and ill omens, though irrational!
In my State the sight of this bird is considered as a good omen!!

 

The juvenile

And a bath on the terrace