#crow pheasant

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Greater coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Have you seen the greater coucal (Centropus sinensis)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onMay 8, 2025

The first photo is of an adult, and the second is of a juvenile.

[thebeastsofindia]

Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant (Centropus sinensis), family Cuculidae, order Cuculiformes, Maharashtra, India

Despite its name this bird is neither a crow nor a pheasant, but is in fact a type of ground dwelling cuckoo.

Ecologically similar to roadrunners, coucals are terrestrial, omnivorous cuckoos that care for their own young

Their diet includes venomous snakes such as vipers and cobras

Despite this, in parts of India they are regarded as an ill omen due to their haunting call

Photo by Yogesh Shid

[birdstudies]

April 15, 2017 - Greater Coucal, Indian Coucal, or Crow Pheasant (Centropus sinensis)

These cuckoos are widespread throughout India, southern China, and much of Southeast Asia. They eat a variety of small animals, such as mice, hedgehogs, frogs, lizards, and insects, hunting from the ground. Although they are not closely related to pheasants, they resemble them somewhat while moving slowly through tall grass with their heads held high. Breeding during rainy seasons, pairs build woven untidy nests at the center of bushes or low in trees. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

[thebeastsofindia]

Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant (Centropus sinensis), family Cuculidae, order Cuculiformes, Maharashtra, India

Despite its name this bird is neither a crow nor a pheasant, but is in fact a type of ground dwelling cuckoo.

Ecologically similar to roadrunners, coucals are terrestrial, omnivorous cuckoos that care for their own young

Their diet includes venomous snakes such as vipers and cobras

Despite this, in parts of India they are regarded as an ill omen due to their haunting call

Photo by Yogesh Shid

[danykha]

Manoj Nair

[gracefree]

Crow Pheasant or Indian Coucal... by bahallavi

[vriskamcelroy]

So there’s (what I think is) a Crow Pheasant hanging around my back yard. Photos soon.