“Was alerted to this adult Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensisby) with its usual deep booming calls (above left). Spotted the bird 2.5-3 meters up in a star fruit tree (Averrhoa carambola) in deep shade. These birds are usually very shy but this adult allowed me to approach almost to the base of the tree (hampered by a fenced off orchard).
“These are the shorter “bup, bup…” calls (see Wells 1999). Often 3 notes of similar intensity (see audio track above right). It would lower the head to make the calls. No corresponding mate calls were heard (as is usual). Watched for 15 minutes before leaving, it was still calling.
“Although the calls are deep, capturing them on the D7000 audio track is not easy. May need to up the volume to hear them well in this handheld video… calls
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Tambun Interior, Perak, Malaysia
16th July 2011
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