Raffles's malkoha

Raffles's malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea) is a species of cuckoo (family Cuculidae). It was formerly often placed in Phaenicophaeus with the other malkohas, but it is a rather distinct species, with several autapomorphies and sexual dimorphism (which its presumed relatives all lack).

Raffles's malkoha
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Genus:	Rhinortha Vigors, 1830
Species:	R. chlorophaea
Binomial name
Rhinortha chlorophaea (Raffles, 1822)
Synonyms
Cuculus chlorophaeus Raffles, 1822 Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus (Raffles, 1822)

It might not even be very closely related to the true malkohas, but form a very basal lineage of cuckoos; in any case, its placement in a monotypic genus Rhinortha is well warranted.

It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. It was once found in Singapore but is now considered extirpated.^[2] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.^[1]

Its diet consists of insects, including caterpillars, cicadas, crickets, beetles, and locusts.^[3]

During courtship, the male Raffles's malkoha has been observed to stand on the base of the female's outstretched wings and hold a frog in its bill. It is unclear whether the frog is a gift to the female or whether the male keeps it afterward.^[3]