The lesser coucal spotted in Hailing spreads its wings and soars through the sky. [Photo/WeChat account: weihailing0523]
The lesser coucal, a first-class national protected animal in China, was recently observed near Renfang Park in Hailing district, Taizhou. This marks the first recorded sighting of the species in the city.
The lesser coucal is a medium-sized bird, measuring 30 to 40 centimeters long, with a striking appearance featuring a black head and abdomen, a brown back, and distinctive calls. Its vocalizations sound like a wooden fish being struck or someone taking large gulps of alcohol.
The lesser coucal is a resident bird that inhabits grasslands and shrubs, preferring to live alone or in pairs, and feeding on insects and small animals.
Wang Xuehui, a local bird enthusiast, spent 46 days near the park, observing the bird eight times and taking rare photos. He mentioned the difficulty of capturing images of the elusive bird amid dense summer foliage.
"They sometimes dart into the grass and sometimes hide in the tree branches. In summer, when the grass and leaves are luxuriant, it's quite difficult to capture the perfect photo of them," said Wang.