From Opus

Photo by Nora
Location: Toolern Vale, Melbourne, Australia

Cuculus pallidus

Cacomantis pallidus

[edit] Identification

28 - 33 cm. Grey plumage, dark wings and back, tail broadly barred black and white. Brown bill, grey-brown legs and feet, yellow eye ring. Juveniles mottled brown and buff above, white spot on nape, streaked grey-rbown and white below.

Juveniles mottled brown and buff above and have a white nape spot. Streaked grey-brown and white below.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by Neil
Newcastle, Australia

Australasia and Southeast Asia

[edit] Taxonomy

Some authorities place this species in the genus Cacomantis.

Cuculus pallidus has two subspecies:

• C. p. pallidus;
• C. p. occidentalis.

[edit] Habitat

Photo by Gallus
Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia

Open forests and woodlands, as well as cleared and cultivated open country.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Diet includes 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.

[edit] Breeding

It uses other birds' nests, the female replacing one of the host eggs with her own.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call is a loud, ascending whistle too-too-too.

[edit] References

1. Birds in Backyards

[edit] References

Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for "Pallid Cuckoo" downloaded 15 April 2008.

[edit] External Links