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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  蒲台怪鵑 Mystery cuckoo on Po Toi
        
(Message started by: Mike Kilburn on Aug 30^th, 2005, 10:26am)

Title: 蒲台怪鵑 Mystery cuckoo on Po Toi
Post by Mike Kilburn on Aug 30^th, 2005, 10:26am

This cuckoo was photographed on Po Toi on Sunday 28th Aug.  What do you think it is , and most helpfully, why.

There's not much more I can give in the way of additional information - except that it had a uniform grey back with a darker tail. If anything the back was more slaty blue than brownish grey.

Also you can see from the forewing that the bird has some hepatic-type feathers - there were also a few (looking rather heavily worn, on the rump), but unfortunately it did not stay around long enough for me to photograph the upperparts.

No migratory cuckoo has ever appeared in August before, but the choices are most likely to be Lesser, Oriental (which has recently been split: Himalayan breeds in Guangdong, and Horsfields much further north in China).  There is also an outside chance of Common following the report of a calling bird in Tai Po Kau this spring. I consider Indian to be highly unlikely.

Any thoughts much appreciated

Many thanks

Mike K

Picture DSCN8981:

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/mikekilburn/DSCN8981.jpg

Picture DSCN8982:

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/mikekilburn/DSCN8982.jpg

Title: Re: Mystery cuckoo on Po Toi
Post by Koel_Ko on Aug 30^th, 2005, 9:38pm

Just a thought:

In this case I thought this may be a Eurasian, with fine, untidy barring on the underparts, too thin to be expected on Oriental. Lesser seems to have more defined and complete barring.

Reddish iris does suggest Oriental, but Eurasian could have reddish iris as well. The yellow bill base of a rather fine bill suggests Eurasian to me.

As Eurasian widely winters in the Phillipines and South-east Asia I have been baffled by its absence in HK, but I guess some may indeed pass through undetected.

Would love to hear from experts!