Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Hierococcyx nisicolor
Family: Cuckoos · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 27–31 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds from Bhutan to northeastern India, southern China and Indochina; winters south through the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
Smaller than Large Hawk-Cuckoo. Adult has slate grey upperparts and orange-rufous smudging or streaking on breast. Juvenile is more often recorded in Singapore, and has brown upperparts and bold dark streaking on underparts, often with rufous tones bordering the dark streaks. Rufous tones are usually most pronounced on the sides of the breast and neck. In all plumages, told from Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo by narrower penultimate pale tail band. Compared to Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Hodgson's is smaller, has a proportionally shorter tail, and has only streaks on underparts with no bars (even juvenile Large almost always has bars on flanks).
Forest, forest edge, wooded areas, parks, and gardens.