Himalayan Cuckoo

Cuculus saturatus

Family: Cuckoos · Status: Very rare migrant · Size: 29 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds from northeast Pakistan and the northern Indian subcontinent to southern China; winters through Southeast Asia to the Greater Sundas, Sulawesi, and northern Australia.

Identification

Resembles Indian Cuckoo but has cold grey upperparts with no brown tones, lacks broad black bars on the undertail (shows white spots instead), and has less distinct black uppertail band (or none at all). Hepatic female has deep orange upperparts with dark barring and whitish underparts. Juvenile is slate-grey above with white feather edges. Formerly considered conspecific with Oriental Cuckoo, which may occur in Singapore (no confirmed records); the two cannot be separated in the field without vocalizations or in-hand measurements.

Habitat

Forest, secondary growth, and wooded parkland.