wgeoff

Is this just a Plaintive Cuckoo?

It seemed rather large and the bill looks large too (to say nothing of the caterpillar).
Photos taken today (Saturday 23rd March) on Po Toi.



[ Last edited by wgeoff at 18/08/2010 17:31 ]

ajohn

It looks like a plaintive cuckoo to me.

the only real confusion would be a hepatic form of oriental but I think this bird is too small (compare the size to the branch and caterpillar) and the structure seems wrong (too small-headed and short-winged?) I expect there are plumage differences as well. Also, it's a bit too early for oriental but plaintive is now getting fairly common in the NT.

wgeoff

Thanks John. I agree on Plaintive.

Now looking back, I think I saw this bird briefly the previous Saturday but didn't id it. I think the HKBWS boat trip saw it also on the Sunday, I presume it was a hepatic bird they saw.