Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx sparverioides
This species’ maddening song can be likened to the phrase “brain-FEVER,” which adequately describes what this bird gives birders trying to see one as it sings high up in the forest canopy. If seen well, note hawk-like appearance, with a long barred tail, brown upperparts, and patterned white underparts. Orangish flush on chest apparent in adults. Favors hill and montane forests when breeding; often found at lower altitudes and in forest edge and scrubby areas when migrating and on wintering grounds.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Hierococcyx sparverioides
- Authority
- (Vigors, 1832)
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Hierococcyx
Range and habitat
It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Found as a vagrant on Christmas Island. The subspecies H. s. bocki of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo is usually considered a separate species, the dark hawk-cuckoo.
- Breeding range
- OR : widespread w Himalayas through e China and se Asia
- Non-breeding range
- s India through w, c Indonesian Arch. and Philippines
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
They call in summer and calling goes on well after dusk. In their winter grounds, they tend to be silent.<p>Like many other cuckoos, this species is a brood parasite. Many laughing-thrushes (example Pterorhinus sannio) are capable of detecting the eggs of the cuckoo and remove them. The cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of their hosts.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Pygmy Heleia
Heleia squamifrons
Tiny hyperactive ping-pong ball of a bird. Unlike any other Bornean white-eye in appearance; note gray-brown upperparts, yellow-washed underparts, pale gray face, pale eyes, and white-speckled “scaly” forehead. Inhabits submontane and hill forests and forest edge, particularly in scrubby growth and stunted vegetation. Forages at middle and upper levels of forest in flocks, often mixed in with other species. Calls are high and squeaky. Also known as Bornean Ibon.
Green-throated Carib
Eulampis holosericeus
This large hummingbird has a somewhat down-curved bill. Though iridescent green, it appears black in mediocre to poor light. Most easily distinguished from Purple-throated Carib by its dull wings (wings are iridescent green in Purple-throated) and less curved bill. Common in much of its range, where it frequents forests but also visits gardens and parks. Calls include “chewp” and a variety of twitters.
Golden-collared Manakin
Manacus vitellinus
A small, plump, and short-tailed manakin with a restricted range in Panama and western Colombia. Males are striking with a bright yellow throat and collar, a black cap, and a black back with greenish rump and belly. Females are entirely olive-green with red legs and dark bill and eye. Hybridizes with White-collared and White-bearded Manakins; hybrid males typically have yellow upper backs. Apparently no range overlap with similar Orange-collared Manakin. Occurs in dense understory of forest, second growth, and edges. Males gather in groups to display for females; otherwise most likely to be found at a fruiting tree or sitting quietly in the lower levels of forest.
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