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The Sirkeer Malkoha (Taccocua leschenaultii), a bird typically found in Uttarakhand's plains, was recorded for the first time in Uttarkashi district's Barkot area in early December 2025 by the Upper Yamuna forest division team.
Key Facts about the Sirkeer Malkoha
- Scientific Name: Taccocua leschenaultii
- Family: Cuculidae (cuckoo family)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- Appearance:
- Long-tailed, olive-brown upper body
- Curved red bill tipped with yellow
- Teardrop-shaped dark patch around each eye, giving an elegant look
- Behavior:
- Unlike many cuckoos, it is non-parasitic (does not lay eggs in other birds’ nests)
- Forages close to the ground in scrub forests and dry woodlands
- Moves with a scurrying gait or flaps away laboriously when disturbed
Distribution & Habitat
- Found widely across the sub-Himalayan Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Rajasthan
- Prefers dry scrub forests, open woodlands, and undergrowth
- Recently recorded for the first time in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, expanding its known range
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