The Plaintive Cuckoo, a slender and elusive bird of Southeast Asia, captures attention with both its beauty and its unusual breeding behavior. While not the easiest to spot, its haunting calls and interesting plumage make it a fascinating addition to any birdwatcher's list.
The Plaintive Cuckoo exhibits a surprising amount of variation in its appearance. Males typically sport a sleek grey-brown back with a contrasting orange belly and a grey head. Females, however, can come in two forms. The "typical" female resembles the male, but the "hepatic" morph boasts a rusty-brown top with bold black barring across its body.
More often heard than seen, the Plaintive Cuckoo is known for its distinctive calls. The male's song is a melancholic whistle, starting with a few clear notes that rise in pitch before trailing off into a series of softer, breathy sounds. This haunting melody, perfectly suited to the bird's name, is a common sound in the open woodlands and agricultural areas it frequents.
The Plaintive Cuckoo is a brood parasite, a sneaky reproductive strategy shared by some cuckoo species. Unlike raising its own young, the female lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving the unsuspecting hosts to raise the cuckoo chick as their own. The young cuckoo hatches quickly and grows at an alarming rate, often outcompeting the host's chicks for food and ultimately pushing them out of the nest.
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14 окт 2024
