The Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), often called the crow pheasant, is a bird cloaked in mystery and myth. With its glossy black plumage, rich chestnut wings, and piercing crimson eyes, it moves with deliberate grace through the undergrowth of South and Southeast Asia. Unlike its parasitic cuckoo cousins, the Greater Coucal builds its own nest and raises its young, embodying a nurturing spirit that contrasts with its eerie reputation. Thai National Parks+4 Flickr+4 Birda+4 Wikipedia

Preferring the solitude of dense vegetation, this bird is more often heard than seen. Its deep, resonant calls—coop-coop-coop—echo through the early morning and late afternoon air, leading to various cultural associations with omens and the supernatural. Despite its size, the Greater Coucal is a weak flier, choosing to stalk the forest floor in search of insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally fruits and seeds. BioDB+2WFFT Guidebook+2Thai National Parks+2

During the breeding season, which varies across its range but often aligns with the monsoon, the Greater Coucal constructs a large, dome-shaped nest hidden within dense foliage. Both parents share the responsibilities of incubation and feeding, showcasing a cooperative approach to rearing their young. This bird's adaptability to various habitats, from jungles to urban gardens, underscores its resilience and the subtle charm it brings to the avian world. Flickr+1Birda+1

大鵬鴉鵑（Centropus sinensis）

大鵬鴉鵑，又名烏鴉雉，是一種充滿神秘色彩的鳥類。 牠擁有光澤的黑色羽毛、濃郁的栗色翅膀和鮮紅的眼睛，優雅地穿梭於南亞和東南亞的茂密植被中。 與寄生繁殖的杜鵑不同，大鵬鴉鵑自行築巢並撫育後代，展現出與其神秘聲譽相反的慈愛本性。

這種鳥類喜歡隱居於濃密的植被中，更常以其低沉、共鳴的叫聲——「咕咕咕」——在清晨和傍晚的空氣中迴盪，因而在各地文化中被視為預兆或神秘的象徵。 儘管體型較大，大鵬鴉鵑飛行能力較弱，選擇在地面上覓食，捕捉昆蟲、小型脊椎動物，有時也食用水果和種子。

在繁殖季節（因地區而異，通常與季風同步），大鵬鴉鵑會在濃密的樹葉中築起大型的圓頂巢穴。 雌雄雙方共同負責孵化和餵養，展現出合作撫育後代的行為。 這種鳥類能適應各種棲息地，從叢林到城市花園，展現出其堅韌不拔的生命力，並為鳥類世界增添了細膩的魅力。

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