Kingdom Animalia Subfamily Phaenicophaeinae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | Family Cuculidae Scientific name Phaenicophaeus Higher classification Cuckoos Order Cuculiformes | |
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Lower classifications Green‑billed malkoha, Chestnut‑breasted malkoha, Red‑billed malkoha, Blue‑faced malkoha, Raffles's malkoha | ||
Birds malkoha
Malkohas are large birds in the cuckoo family Cuculidae, all in the genus Phaenicophaeus. The group name is derived from the Sinhala word for the red-faced malkoha; Mal-Koha meaning flower-cuckoo. These are all Asian tropical species. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek phoiniko- "crimson", and phaes "eyes" or "face", referring to the red-faced malkoha. However, the 'œ' was mistranscribed as 'æ'.
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Species in taxonomic order are:
Raffles's malkoha ("P." chlorophaeus) is a highly distinct species and may not even be as closely related to malkohas as long believed. Its placement in a monotypic genus Rhinortha is supported by a morphological, molecular and behavioral evidence.
The green malkoha or yellowbill seems also distinct from the typical malkohas; it is placed in the monotypic genus Ceuthmochares.
