Red-billed Malkoha vs Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

In short

The Red-billed Malkoha and Chestnut-breasted Malkoha are both large, long-tailed cuckoos, but they can be distinguished by their bill color and chest plumage. The Red-billed Malkoha has a distinctive red bill and lacks the chestnut breast of the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.

Identification tips

1. Look for the red bill on the Red-billed Malkoha. 2. Check for the chestnut breast on the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. 3. Observe the habitat: Red-billed Malkoha is more common in lowland forests. 4. Use plumage color as a secondary check, focusing on the chest and bill.

Size

Both species are similar in size, with long tails and slender bodies typical of malkohas.

Plumage

The Red-billed Malkoha has a mostly greenish body with a red bill, while the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha features a prominent chestnut-colored breast and a greenish upper body. Both have long tails, but the chest plumage is a key difference.

Behaviour

Both species are arboreal and often seen moving through dense foliage in search of insects, but specific behavioral differences are not well-documented.

Habitat

Both species inhabit forested areas, but the Red-billed Malkoha is more often found in lowland forests, whereas the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha can also be found in montane forests.

Voice

Vocalizations are not well-documented for these species, making them unreliable for field identification.