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Pallid Cuckoo - BirdForum Opus

Cuculus pallidus
Photo by Nora
Location: Toolern Vale, Melbourne

Cacomantis 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.

Call is a loud, ascending whistle too-too-too.., Young Pallid Cuckoos are mottled with brown and buff above, with a white spot on the nape, and are streaked with grey-brown and white below.

Distribution

Australasia and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy

Some authorities place this species in the genus Cacomantis.

Cuculus 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 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.

It uses other birds' nests.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Pallid_cuckoo.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

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

External Links

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