Little Cuckoo-Dove

Overview

The little cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is a reddish brown pigeon found across parts of Southeast Asia and China. It is currently classified as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List due to its large range and stable population.

Identification

• Length of 27 to 30 cm and weight of 74 to 88 g.
• Cinnamon buff plumage with a long tail that distinguishes it from other sympatric pigeons.
• Brown beak with a black tip and coral red feet.
• Travels in loose flocks.

Habitat

Found in evergreen hill forests and forest peripheries in the northern part of its range, while drier and second-growth forests are preferred further south. It also inhabits cultivated areas and is commonly found in submontane habitats between 300 and 2,000 m above sea level, though it has been recorded at sea level and up to 3,000 m. Its distribution includes Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Did you know?

Despite its name suggesting otherwise, it is not a cuckoo but a member of the pigeon family, Columbidae.