Ceuthmochares australis
Another very rarely seen bird with a limited distribution in South Africa – only found here along the coast of Kwazulu-Natal – and one that I saw for the first time on my recent trip to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park with my younger brother, is the Green Malkoha (also known as the Green Coucal or Whistling Yellowbill).
The Green Malkoha is a bird of coastal forest habitats and a member of the cuckoo-family. It feeds on a wide range of small vertebrates (with a special fondness for tree-living frogs) and insects, and also a limited selection of fruits. They are usually seen singly or in pairs, preferring to creep through the thick vegetation like a rodent rather than flying.
Green Malkohas form monogamous pairs in the spring breeding season, building rather flimsy platform nests in dense thicket on which clutches of 2-4 eggs are laid – rather unusual in the cuckoo-family, where most species are brood parasites. Aside from the fact that both parents take care of the young after they’ve hatched little else is known of this species’ breeding habits. Fully grown, Green Malkohas weigh about 70g and measure 33cm in length.
The IUCN considers the Green Malkoha to be of Least Concern. Beyond its limited South African occurrence it can be found along the Indian Ocean seaboard and adjacent interior as far north as southern Somalia, with an isolated population on the Ethiopian Highlands.
DeWetsWild 
Kyk daardie groot en lang stert! Dis seker hoekom hulle eerder kruip as vlieg 😀.
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Herinner nogal aan ń roeiboot se spaan, né Corna?
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Jaa! Noudat jy dit noem, kan ek dit sien 😀.
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This is a VERY special sighting – very exciting indeed!
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My smile must’ve gone right around my head, Anne!
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Dis wonderlik dat jy die voel kon sien, Dries!
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Dankie, Aletta. Ek was baie in my noppies!
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You must have been excited to spot this one, Dries. I sometimes think I’m a member of the cuckoo family and I’m certainly monogamous. I not, however, rarely seen. 🙂
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😀
Sounds like the Malkoha might be your “spirit animal”, Janet!
I was really excited to see it – parked the vehicle at right angles across the main road leading to Cape Vidal just to get these two shots!
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