Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Cuculus micropterus
Family: Cuckoos · Status: Common migrant · Size: 31–33 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds across the Indian subcontinent to China, Siberia, Korea and Southeast Asia (except Singapore and the Philippines); northern populations winter south through Southeast Asia.
Male has greyish head, throat and upper breast, dark brown mantle, wings and tail, white underparts with dark bars, thick dark bars on undertail, a single black uppertail band, and a yellow eyering. Female resembles male but has a rufescent wash across the breast. Juvenile has browner crown and head-sides, prominent pale feather-tips on upperparts, and buffish underparts with broken dark bars. Differs from Himalayan and Oriental Cuckoo in upperpart colour (brown vs. grey), presence of broad black bars on the undertail, and the distinct black uppertail band (less distinct or absent in Himalayan/Oriental).
Forest, forest edge, mangroves, parks and gardens.