Sulawesi Cuckoo

Cuculus crassirostris

A large, long-tailed cuckoo with chocolate-brown upperparts and tail, a contrasting pale gray head, and thickly barred underparts. Juvenile has a black head and whitish underside. A seldom-seen bird of forested lowlands and mountains, most abundant in the foothills. Distinguished from most other cuckoos by the heavy barring below and the brown back. Separated from Large Hawk-Cuckuoo by smaller size, absence of throat streaking, and lack of any rufous throat coloration. Distinctive call, often given before dawn, is rapid, three-note “kaka-koo.”

Identification

The Sulawesi cuckoo (Cuculus crassirostris) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is often known as the Sulawesi hawk-cuckoo but appears not to be related to the other hawk-cuckoos. It is endemic to Sulawesi Island in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Taxonomy

Genus: Cuculus; Family: Cuculidae; Order: Cuculiformes.

Scientific name
Cuculus crassirostris
Authority
(Walden, 1872)
Order
Cuculiformes
Family
Cuculidae
Genus
Cuculus

Range and habitat

Migration
Vertical migration

Behavior

Migration pattern: Vertical migration.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

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