Hawk Cuckoo in Sarawak (1 Viewer)

[tony.saw]

Hi
Is this simply a Large Hawk Cuckoo? Picture taken 30/03/2018 near Bakalalan, Sarawak. I've added a picture of Bock's Hawk Cuckoo taken the day before in a similar location.
Thanks
Tony

 

[andyb39]

Looks like Large Hawk Cuckoo on primary projection?

 

[James Eaton]

It's a young bird, Tony - do you have any showing the upperparts? Best way to tell immature Bock's from Large is colour of the upperparts (grey vs brown).

James

 

[andyb39]

I've just checked my copy of Phillipps and it states Large Hawk Cuckoo is a vagrant with only 5 records. Is that an accurate description of its status, James?

 

[James Eaton]

I've just checked my copy of Phillipps and it states Large Hawk Cuckoo is a vagrant with only 5 records. Is that an accurate description of its status, James?

I believe it's a scarce visitor, not sure on the number of records, but likely more than five - I've only seen it once, along the Kinabatangan in Sabah. On migration in Peninsular Malaysia they are very much a coastal lowland migrant.

 

[andyb39]

I see Bakalalan/Bakelalan is at an altitude of 910 m, making LHC doubly unlikely then.

 

[tony.saw]

Thanks for the answers. We thought it might be a juvenile because of the little amount of brown around the throat, but were confused by the markings on the throat. So a juvenile Bock's.
Thanks
Tony