- Cacomantis pallidus
Cuculus pallidus
Identification
31–32 cm (12¼-12½ in)
- Grey upperparts,
- Broad pale supercilium
- Dark grey eye line
- Pale nape patch
- Whit bars on outer tail
- Pale grey, unbarred, underparts
- Yellow eyering
- Greyish-brown legs and feet
Juveniles mottled brown and buff above and have a white nape spot. Streaked grey-brown and white below.
Distribution
Australasia and Southeast Asia
Taxonomy
Some authorities place this species in the genus Cuculus.
This is a monotypic species[1].
Subspecies occidentalis is not generally recognised[2].
Habitat
Open forests and woodlands, as well as cleared and cultivated open country.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists of hairy caterpillars, other insects and their larvae. Prey is spotted from low perch and is pounced on, usually on the ground. Some insects are taken from foliage.
Breeding
They use other birds' nests, the female replacing one of the host eggs with her own.
Vocalisation
Call is a loud, ascending whistle too-too-too.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Nov 2017)
- Birds in Backyards
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pallid Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pallid_Cuckoo
