Sub-adult Greater Coucal

YC Wee
on 25th October 2009

Desmond Wong’s a.k.a des95446 image of a sub-adult Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) shows the transitional plumage form. A juvenile has a head that is dull black with brown spots. And this is still apparent in this sub-adult. The wings of the juvenile have blackish bars but the bars have disappeared in this specimen. Again, the brownish bars of the tail feathers have all disappeared and the colour has changed from brown to black. Obviously moulting into an adult plumage has yet to be completed.

The image was taken at Janda Baik in the Malaysian state of Pahang in early October 2009.

According to Desmond, “I saw this sub-adult Greater Coucal trying to swallow a huge centipede. I was still in the car at that point in time. Did not manage to get out fast enough to set up my gear. Only managed to get a shot after it swallowed the centipede. Shot it hand-holding the 500mm.”

Image by Desmond Wong.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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