Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo

Photo by Romy Ocon
UP-Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, September 2004

Hierococcyx pectoralis

Cuculus pectoralis

Identification

28cm.

• Slate-grey above, wings barred grey-brown
• White loral streak
• Grey and black banded tail with broad subterminal black band and rufous tip
• Grey chin
• White throat
• Bright rufous breast, sometimes with fine grey streaks)
• White belly and undertail-coverts
• Yellow eye-ring

Sexes similar. Juveniles have a blackish head with buff feather edges, a white nape, a streaked chin and a rufous wash on chest.

Distribution

Endemic to the Philippines (Palawan, Luzon, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Cebu, Negros, Leyte and Mindanao).
Uncommon to rare in its rapidly disappearing habitat.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo, Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo and Northern Hawk-Cuckoo.
Some authorities view Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo as belonging to genus Cuculus.

Habitat

Virgin mossy to dipterocarp forest. Occurs up to 2400m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects, mainly caterpillars. Takes also berries.

Breeding

Very little known. A brood parasitic.

Movements

A resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Philippine_Hawk-Cuckoo

External Links

Search for photos of Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo in the gallery