Grey-bellied Cuckoo

Overview

The grey-bellied cuckoo, also known as the Indian plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus), is a small cuckoo species found throughout Asia. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, it exhibits a widespread distribution across the tropical regions of the continent.

Identification

• Adults are approximately 23 cm in length, primarily grey with a white lower belly, undertail, and wing patch.
• Females can appear as dark-barred reddish brown above with unbarred tails and strongly dark-barred whitish underparts.
• Juveniles resemble females but possess duller grey plumage.
• Characterised by a persistent, loud 'pee-pip-pee-pee' call delivered with a depressed tail.

Habitat

This species breeds in tropical southern Asia, spanning from India and Sri Lanka to south China and Indonesia. It prefers light woodland and cultivated areas, acting as a short-distance migrant where northern and high-altitude populations move to warmer regions in winter.

Diet

The grey-bellied cuckoo feeds on a variety of insects and caterpillars.

Did you know?

As a brood parasite, this cuckoo relies on warblers to raise its young, laying a single egg in their nests.