Coucal
Bengal Cuckoo ( Centropus bengalensis )
The Cuckoos spur or spurs Cuckoos ( Centropus ) are the only genus in the subfamily Centropodinae in the family of cuckoos. The genus was first described in 1811 by Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger on the basis of the Egyptian spur cuckoo ( Centropus senegalensis aegyptius ).
Features
The spur cuckoos are big, strong, soil inhabiting cuckoo birds with powerful beaks, short, rounded wings and long, broad tails. The scientific name is composed of the Greek terms kentron ( = spur ) and pous ( = walk) and refers to the long, straight and large rear claw toe ( hallux ) in most spur cuckoo species. Apart from the jacket cover the broad wings back. The back and rump are often covered by short black feathers that are covered with closed wings.
System
In the kind of spur Cuckoos following 28 species are distinguished, which occur in the Old World:
- Celebeskuckuck ( Centropus celebensis )
- Bamboo Cuckoo ( Centropus unirufus )
- Mask Cuckoo ( Centropus melanops )
- Sundakuckuck ( Centropus nigrorufus )
- Pale head Cuckoo ( Centropus milo )
- Goliath cuckoo ( Centropus goliath )
- Purple Cuckoo ( Centropus violaceus )
- Mohr Cuckoo ( Centropus menbeki )
- Bald Cuckoo ( Centropus ateralbus )
- Pheasant spur Cuckoo ( Centropus phasianinus )
- Kaikuckuck ( Centropus spilopterus )
- Amber Cuckoo ( Centropus bernsteini )
- Biakkuckuck ( Centropus chalybeus )
- Short spur Cuckoo ( Centropus rectunguis )
- Mindorokuckuck ( Centropus steerii )
- Heck Cuckoo ( Centropus sinensis)
- Andamanenkuckuck ( Centropus andamanensis )
- Green Cuckoo ( Centropus viridis)
- Tulukuckuck ( Centropus Toulou )
- Grill Cuckoo ( Centropus grillii )
- Bengal Cuckoo ( Centropus bengalensis )
- Ceylonkuckuck ( Centropus chlororhynchos )
- Weißbauckkuckuck ( Centropus leucogaster )
- Ansellkuckuck ( Centropus anselli )
- Monk Cuckoo ( Centropus monachus)
- Copper tail Cuckoo ( Centropus cupreicaudus )
- Spur Cuckoo ( Centropus senegalensis )
- White brewing cuckoo ( Centropus superciliosus )
In 1985, the fossil remains of extinct species Centropus colossus from Green Waterhole Cave have been reported in Tantanoola in South Australia.