The short-toed coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei, and parts of Indonesia including Sumatra and Borneo. It is tied to dense undergrowth in lowland evergreen and peat-swamp forests, also using overgrown clearings and forest edge. The species prefers tangled thickets, rattan and bamboo stands, and shrub-dominated wetlands where it can move under cover. It tolerates some secondary growth but declines where forests are heavily logged or drained.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 700 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-frequenting coucal of lowland Southeast Asian forests, it is far more often heard than seen. Its name refers to its relatively short toes compared with related coucals. It favors dense thickets and peat-swamp forests and often calls with deep, resonant notes after rain. Ongoing loss of lowland forest and drainage of peat swamps are the main threats to this species.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, moving stealthily through dense understory and climbing through vines and shrubs. Nests are bulky, dome-like structures placed low in dense vegetation. Breeding is thought to be during the wet season, with both adults involved in nesting duties. Pairs maintain small territories in suitable thickets.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives deep, resonant hooping or booming notes, often in a slow series that carries through dense forest. Calls may accelerate into a bubbling sequence and are most frequent at dawn, dusk, and after rainfall.
