Image via Macaulay Library
Biak Coucal
- Scientific name
- Centropus chalybeus
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Conservation status
- Near threatened
- Habitat
- Forest mixed
- Wing shape
- Broad
- Tail shape
- Rounded
Where it came from
The Biak Coucal, scientifically classified as Centropus chalybeus, is a rare species of cuckoo endemic to Biak Island in the Schouten Islands of Indonesia. It was historically considered a subspecies of the Lesser Coucal, but it gained recognition as a distinct species due to its specific morphological characteristics, including its notably broad wings and rounded tail, which reflect its adaptation to the dense forest environments of its restricted range.
The taxonomy and study of this bird are rooted in late 19th and early 20th-century ornithological expeditions to the Indonesian archipelago. Researchers identified it as a separate entity by examining its plumage density and skeletal structure, which differ significantly from mainland coucal species. The bird is currently classified as vulnerable, and its discovery remains a significant case study in island biogeography and the evolutionary isolation of avian populations in the Pacific.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Biak Coucal
Biak Coucal is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Biak Coucal on collecto.rs?
Biak Coucal doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Biak Coucal?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Biak Coucal catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Biak Coucal is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
