Centropus sinensis
Size: 45 – 50cm
Weight: 235 – 270g
Found: A widespread resident in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia – found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens.
Description: The head is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. There are no pale shaft streaks on the coverts. The eyes are ruby red. Juveniles are duller black with spots on the crown and there are whitish bars on the underside and tail. The sexes are similar in plumage but females are slightly larger.
Diet: takes a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates such as the Saw-scaled vipers. They are also known to eat bird eggs, nestlings, fruits and seeds.
Comment: They are weak fliers, and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range.
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