Grey-bellied Cuckoo
NameGrey-bellied Cuckoo
Common NameGrey-bellied Cuckoo
Scientific NameCacomantis passerinus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)23
Weight (g)35
Plumage DetailsAdults have a rufous-brown head, nape, and upperparts. The throat and upper breast are grey, transitioning to finely barred white and dark grey/black on the belly and flanks. The tail is dark with rufous barring on the outer feathers.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, repetitive series of whistles, often described as 'pee-pee-pee-peep' or 'pip-pip-pip-pip-peep', increasing in tempo and pitch.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across a wide range in South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and parts of Thailand.
Identifying Featuresrufous head and upperparts, finely barred grey and white underparts, small size for a cuckoo, distinctive whistling call, brood parasitic
Description
The Grey-bellied Cuckoo is a small cuckoo species characterized by its rufous head and upperparts, contrasting with finely barred grey and white underparts. It is often found in open woodlands, scrub, and gardens, where it exhibits brood parasitic behavior, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species.
