48 CMS.,THE COMMONEST AND MOST WIDESPREAD COUCAL.THE HEAD IS BLACK,UPPER MANTLE AND UNDERSIDE ARE BLACK GLOSSED WITH PURPLE .BACK AND WINGS ARE CHESTNUT BROWN.THERE ARE NO PALE SHAFT STREAKS ON THE COVERTS.THE EYES ARE RUBY RED. JUVENILES ARE DULLER BLACK WITH SPOTS ON THE CROWN AND THERE ARE WHITISH BARS ON THE UNDERSIDE AND TAIL.THEY FEED ON INSECTS,CATERPILLARS,AND SMALL VERTEBRATES SUCH AS SAW SCALED VIPERS.THEY ALSO EAT BIRD EGGS,NESTLINGS,FRUITS AND SEEDS.FOUND IN OVERGROWN AND TANGLED SHRUBBERY INLIGHT FOREST,FOREST EDGE,GARDENS,CULTIVATION,TALL GRASSLANDS.