Cuckoo species seen in the Cameron Highlands Malaysia (1 Viewer)

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Gibbo 92

Well-known member

• Dec 12, 2017

• #1

Hello,

Please can anyone advise on what species of Cuckoo this is? I think it is a Dark Hawk Cuckoo (bocki). I saw it on trail 4 just outside of Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

Thanks,

Chris.

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 12, 2017

• #2

Do you have another shot which shows the tail better?

 

James Eaton

Trent Valley Crew

• Dec 12, 2017

• #3

Yellow bill base + white tail spots = Cuculus. Given locality, presumably Sunda Cuckoo if it's a resident bird, though discounting Himalayan/Oriental won't be easy!

James

 

A

andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 12, 2017

• #4

James Eaton said:

Yellow bill base + white tail spots = Cuculus.

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Yes, quite right - I saw the spots at the tip of the tail but not on the rest of it, for some reason. Agree it's a Cuculus. I'm attaching a picture of Dark Hawk Cuckoo taken by a friend at Fraser's Hill for comparison.

When did you see it, Chris? According to HBW, Himalayan winters in Peninsular Malaysia. James, do you know when they arrive and when they leave? I can only say this bird doesn't appear to be a full adult, if that signifies anything.

 

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G

Gibbo 92

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2017

• #5

Thanks again for looking at this one. Unfortunately, I only have those two pictures, it was just sat in a small tree in the middle of a kids playground. It took a caterpillar and then flew off. I saw this on the 11th December.

Also do you know if the Cameron Highlands has both Common and Eastern Buzzard? Not really sure about their current range.

Chris

 

James Eaton

Trent Valley Crew

• Dec 13, 2017

• #6

Gibbo 92 said:

Thanks again for looking at this one. Unfortunately, I only have those two pictures, it was just sat in a small tree in the middle of a kids playground. It took a caterpillar and then flew off. I saw this on the 11th December.

Also do you know if the Cameron Highlands has both Common and Eastern Buzzard? Not really sure about their current range.

Chris

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Treating buzzard's by taxa is probably better than 'species', as I'm not really sure what an Eastern is. Thai-Malay Peninsular has recorded all four potential taxa I believe - vulpinus, refectus, burmancius, though I'm not sure if japonicus has been recorded in Malaysia itself, but has been found flying south in South Thailand.

James

 

G

Gibbo 92

Well-known member

• Dec 14, 2017

• #7

That's great, thanks to you both for the information and help.

Chris