Alternative name: Madagascar Lesser Cuckoo
- Cuculus rochii
Identification
- Slate-grey above
- Black tail and uppertail-coverts
- Tail with white tip and white spots at sindes
- Bend of wing below grey-barred white
- Light grey throat and breast
- White belly with black bars
- Usually unbarred undertail-coverts
- Yellow eye-ring
- Black bill with yellow base (broader at base than in Lesser Cuckoo)
- Yellow feet
Sexes similar, no rufous morph known.
Similar species
Very similar to the Lesser Cuckoo; probably not always safely distinguished in the field. Thin bars, weakly marked undertails and a pale head are good features for Madagascar Cuckoo.
Distribution
Breeds in Madagascar and migrates to eastern Africa in the southern winter.
Common in its breeding range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Forms a superspecies with Lesser Cuckoo and is sometimes regarded conspecific.
Habitat
Forest, gallery forest, plantations, woodland, subdesert woodland and marshes. Occurs from sea-level up to 1800m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects.
Breeding season from October to April. A brood-parasitic. Recorded hosts are Madagascar Cisticola, Common Jery, Malagasy Paradise-Flycatcher and Malagasy Green Sunbird.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Madagascar Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Madagascar_Cuckoo
