Sumatran Ground Cuckoo
Encyclopedia
The Sumatran Ground Cuckoo (Carpococcyx viridis) is a large, about 55 centimetres (21.7 in) long, long-tailed terrestrial
species of cuckoo
. It has a green upperparts plumage with black crown, green bill
and legs, bluish green bare orbital skin and brown below. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Bornean Ground Cuckoo.
An Indonesia
n endemic
, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is distributed to rainforests of southern Sumatra
. Before it was rediscovered and photographed in 1997 by Andjar Rafiastanto, this elusive species was known only from eight specimens.
In 2006, a camera-trap surveying for tiger
s close to Kerinci Seblat National Park
took an image of the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo, only the second time it had been recorded in the last ninety years. The current population is estimated at less than 250.
In 2007, its call was recorded for the first time according to New York
-based Wildlife Conservation Society
in a statement released February 26. The call, described as a two-syllable shriek, was recorded by WCS biologists after a trapper handed them a bird he had caught.
Due to ongoing habitat loss and small population size, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is evaluated as Critically Endangered
on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species.
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
species of cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
. It has a green upperparts plumage with black crown, green bill
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
and legs, bluish green bare orbital skin and brown below. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Bornean Ground Cuckoo.
An Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n endemic
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is distributed to rainforests of southern Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Before it was rediscovered and photographed in 1997 by Andjar Rafiastanto, this elusive species was known only from eight specimens.
In 2006, a camera-trap surveying for tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
s close to Kerinci Seblat National Park
Kerinci Seblat National Park
Kerinci Seblat National Park is the largest national park in Sumatra Indonesia. It has a total area of 13,791 km2, and spans four provinces: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra....
took an image of the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo, only the second time it had been recorded in the last ninety years. The current population is estimated at less than 250.
In 2007, its call was recorded for the first time according to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
in a statement released February 26. The call, described as a two-syllable shriek, was recorded by WCS biologists after a trapper handed them a bird he had caught.
Due to ongoing habitat loss and small population size, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is evaluated as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
of Threatened Species.