Black-hooded coucal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-hooded coucal |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Centropus
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| Species: |
steerii
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The black-hooded coucal (Centropus steerii) is a special type of cuckoo bird. It lives only on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. This bird is one of the most endangered birds in the country. Its home is disappearing, and some birds are caught in traps.
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What Does the Black-Hooded Coucal Look Like?
This is a large bird with a long tail. It lives in the lowland forests of Mindoro. It has a brown back and belly. Its wings are dark with brown edges on the feathers. The tail is dark and looks a bit blue in the light. It also has a black "hood" on its head. There are some light streaks on the back of its neck. Look for its strong, curved beak!
How to Tell it Apart
The black-hooded coucal is similar to the Philippine coucal. However, the black-hooded coucal has a brown belly, not a black one. It also prefers to live only in old, untouched forests. The Philippine coucal can live in more open areas. The black-hooded coucal's song is a series of very deep "hoots" that go down in pitch.
Where Does This Bird Live and Why Is It in Danger?
The black-hooded coucal's natural habitat is the tropical moist lowland forest. This means it lives in warm, wet forests close to sea level. Sadly, these forests on Mindoro have been disappearing very quickly.
Why Its Home Is Shrinking
By 1988, most of Mindoro's forests were gone. Only a small part of the forest remained where this bird could live. The lowland forests that are left are broken up into many small pieces. Experts believe that all the forest might disappear by 2020–2030 if nothing changes.
Many things threaten the forest:
- Slash-and-burn farming: This is when people cut down and burn trees to clear land for crops.
- Logging: Some trees are cut down for wood.
- Rattan collection: Rattan is a type of vine used to make furniture. Collecting it can harm the forest.
- Dynamite blasting: This is used to break up rocks for marble, which also destroys the forest.
Because there are so few birds left, their populations are small and spread out. This makes it hard for them to find mates and have healthy chicks.
How Many Black-Hooded Coucals Are Left?
Because of these threats, the black-hooded coucal is now listed as critically endangered. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Scientists believe there are only about 50 to 249 adult birds left in the wild.
What Is Being Done to Help?
Many groups are working to save the black-hooded coucal.
- Education programs: Local people are learning about the bird and why it's important to protect it.
- Surveys: Scientists are looking for the birds to understand where they live and how many there are.
- Ecotourism: This encourages visitors to enjoy nature in a way that helps local people earn money without harming the environment. This gives locals a reason to protect the forest.
The Zoological Society of London has named the black-hooded coucal an EDGE species. This means it is one of the most unique and endangered bird species in the world.
Future Conservation Plans
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) suggests more actions to help:
- Do more surveys to learn about the bird's population.
- Better protect the remaining lowland forests.
- Help more people learn about this special bird.
