Hierococcyx nisicolor
The Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) is a medium-sized cuckoo, measuring approximately 28-30 cm in length, characterized by its cryptic, raptor-like appearance. Adults exhibit dark grey upperparts, a striking rufous breast that often forms a band, and a white belly heavily barred with dark grey or black. A prominent yellow eye-ring and distinctive yellow feet are key identification marks in the field. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Cuculidae and the genus Hierococcyx, sh...
This cuckoo primarily inhabits broadleaf evergreen and mixed deciduous montane forests, as well as dense secondary growth, often at elevations ranging from 600 to 3000 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of large insects, particularly hairy caterpillars, as well as other invertebrates like mantises and grasshoppers, typically gleaned from foliage.
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoos are diurnal but notably secretive, spending much of their time perched motionless within the dense canopy, making them difficult to observe. Their foraging strategy involves gleaning large insects, primarily caterpillars, from foliage. While not overtly territorial, males p...
The Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo boasts a wide distribution across the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Northeast India eastward through northern Myanmar, southern China (including Hainan and Taiwan), Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. During the non-bre...
Least Concern
- Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo was formerly considered a subspecies of the Large Hawk-Cuckoo (*Hierococcyx sparverioides*) but was split into its own species based on vocal and morphological differences. - Its common name honors Brian Houghton Hodgson, a British naturalist who worked extensively in Nepa...