| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern
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| Approximate size(adult): | Length about 35–40 cm; weight ~150–190 g. A medium-sized, short-winged coucal with glossy blackish head and underparts, rich chestnut-brown wings, and a graduated black tail with a greenish sheen. Smaller and darker than the Greater Coucal.
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| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident species found across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. Non-migratory.
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| Migrate to: | Non-migratory; remains within its local range throughout the year.
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| Breeding season: | June to September in India, coinciding with the monsoon. Males are often heard giving bubbling, low-pitched calls during this period.
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| Breed in: | Builds a large dome-shaped nest of grass and leaves hidden in dense vegetation, reeds, or bushes. Lays 3–5 white eggs. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
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| Habitat: | Prefers grasslands, reed beds, agricultural fields, forest edges, and scrublands—usually near wetlands or paddy fields with tall grass. Shy and secretive, often seen skulking in thick cover.
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| Diet: | Feeds on a wide range of insects, caterpillars, frogs, small reptiles, and occasionally bird eggs or nestlings. Hunts close to the ground, moving stealthily through vegetation.
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