Red-crested Malkoha Dasylophus superciliosus Scientific name definitions

38–41 cm; male 115 g, female 120 g. Adult all glossy black, short red eyebrow crest, white tips to tail, bare skin around eye red to yellowish orange, iris yellow, bill pale green with orange base, legs and feet greenish at front, yellow behind. Juvenile all black or with brown forehead, no red crest at fledging (crest develops shortly afterwards, replaces brown forehead), shorter white tips to tail, bill brown to green. Race cagayanensis has crest shorter, the components of both sides meeting and merging on forehead, breast paler.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Breeds May–Jun. A nest in Cagayan province containing three eggs was between the shoots of a Cordia dichotoma tree, c. 2 m above the ground; nest made up of three layers with relatively large twigs in the outer part, dried leaves in the middle, and lined with small twigs; eggs white, 34∙2 mm × 24∙7 mm on average (1 Taggueg, J.B., van Weerd, M. and Telan, S.P. (2014). Nest and nesting characteristics of Rough-crested Malkoha Phoenicophaeus superciliosus cagayanensis. BirdingASIA. 21: 98–99. Close ). Young fledge by time they reach 60 g.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Appears to be fairly common in forests, but these are being heavily depleted throughout the species' range. Present in degraded forest of Angat Watershed, N of Manila, where forest remains because it protects the catchment area of this important water supply for Manila; also present in Quezon National Park, C Luzon, but habitat under immediate threat at this site, where deforestation is going on despite protected status. Populations should be monitored, in order to establish current status of species.