- Cacomantis pallidus
Cuculus pallidus
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.
Distribution
Australasia and Southeast Asia
Taxonomy
Some authorities place this species in the genus Cuculus.
Cacomantis pallidus has two subspecies:
- C. p. pallidus;
- C. p. occidentalis.
Habitat
Open forests and woodlands, as well as cleared and cultivated open country.
Behaviour
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.
Breeding
It uses other birds' nests, the female replacing one of the host eggs with her own.
Vocalisation
Call is a loud, ascending whistle too-too-too.
<flashmp3>Pallid_cuckoo.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Birds in Backyards
References
Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for "Pallid Cuckoo" downloaded 15 April 2008.


