Cacomantis

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Cacomantis
Fan-tailed cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)

Fan- tailed cuckoo ( Cacomantis flabelliformis )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Cuckoo birds (Cuculiformes)
Family : Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Subfamily : Old World Cuckoos (Cuculinae)
Genre : Cacomantis
Scientific name
Cacomantis
S. Mueller , 1843

Cacomantis is a genus in the cuckoo family that includes seven species. They occur in a region from tropical Asia to Australia.

All species are obligatory brood parasites that have their offspring raised by host birds. Except for the Moluccan cuckoo, the population of all species is indicated with LC (= least concern - not endangered). The Moluccan cuckoo, on the other hand, is considered to be near threatened .

Characteristics of the genus

The genus is characterized by the small body size of the individual species. They also all have rounded nostrils, a narrow tail that is rounded at the end, and eye-catching courtship song. They differ from the closely related genus of the cuckoo (Cuculus) by their body size and a pale line on the underside of the wings.

Distribution area

The distribution area of ​​this genus extends from tropical Asia via New Guinea , the Solomon Islands , Vanuatu , Fiji , New Caledonia to the north, north-east and south-west of Australia .

species

The following species belong to the genus Cacomantis. With the exception of the gray-bellied cuckoo, several subspecies are distinguished for all species.

The pale cuckoo is also occasionally placed in the genus Cacomantis. Sources like the Handbook of the Birds of the World or scientists like Bruce Beehler now place the species in its own genus. On the basis of mtDNA analyzes it is certain that the white cuckoo is an intermediate form between the genera Cuculus and Cacomantis, which is most closely related to the monotypical white- headed koel ( Caliechthrus leucolophus ).

literature

  • Bruce M. Beehler & Thane K. Pratt: Birds of New Guinea: Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 2016, ISBN 978-0691164243 .
  • NB Davies: Cuckoos, Cowbirds and Other Cheats . T & AD Poyser, London 2000, ISBN 0-85661-135-2 .
  • PJ Higgins (Editor): Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds: Volume 4 Parrots to Dollarbird . Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1999, ISBN 0-19-553071-3 .
  • Johannes Erhitzøe, Clive F. Mann, Frederik P. Brammer, Richard A. Fuller: Cuckoos of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2012, ISBN 978-0-7136-6034-0 .

Web links

Commons : Cacomantis  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ moluccan-cuckoo-cacomantis-aeruginosus Handbook of the Birds of the World zum Molukkenkuckuck , accessed on November 26, 2017
  2. ^ Beehler & Pratt: Birds of New Guinea . P. 146.
  3. ^ Beehler & Pratt: Birds of New Guinea . P. 145.
  4. ^ Beehler & Pratt: Birds of New Guinea . P. 143.
  5. ↑ Handbook of the Birds of the World zum Blasskuckuck , accessed November 26, 2017