coucal

Thân thiện

A coucal walks through tall grass searching for insects.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of large, ground-dwelling cuckoo bird: A coucal is a bird belonging to the genus Centropus within the cuckoo family (Cuculidae). Unlike many cuckoos, coucals are not brood parasites. They are known for their strong legs, long tails, and a distinctive long, dagger-like hind claw. They are typically found in Africa, Asia, and Australasia.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The call of the coucal is a deep, resonant "coop-coop-coop," often heard at dawn.
  • We spotted a greater coucal foraging in the tall grass near the marsh.
  • Unlike the common cuckoo, the coucal builds its own nest and raises its own young.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: Coucals are often discussed in ornithology for their non-parasitic behavior within the cuckoo family and their role as predators of large insects and small vertebrates.
  • The study focused on the foraging habits of the pheasant coucal in its grassland habitat.

Variants and Related Words

• Greater Coucal (): A common species in tropical Asia.
• Pheasant Coucal (): A species found in Australia and New Guinea.
• Burchell's Coucal (): A species native to southern Africa.

Synonyms

• Crow-pheasant (a common name for some larger coucal species, especially in Asia).
• Lark-heeled cuckoo (an older, less common name referencing its long hind claw).

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While there are no common idioms featuring the word "coucal," the bird's distinctive call is sometimes referenced in descriptive writing about specific regions.
  • The only sound in the hot afternoon was the repetitive call of a distant coucal.

Học thuật

Noun

1. Old World ground-living cuckoo having a long dagger-like hind claw