Birds
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) female Tonle Sap.jpg

Plaintive Cuckoo

Plaintive Cuckoo

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The Plaintive Cuckoo is a small, widespread cuckoo known for its distinctive and melancholic whistling call, which gives it its common name. It is a familiar sound across much of South and Southeast Asia.
Where to spot
Found extensively across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of East Asia, including the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Indonesia. It inhabits open woodlands, scrub, gardens, and cultivation, often near human habitation.
How to spot
Its 'plaintive' call is the best way to locate it. Look for its relatively plain grey and rufous plumage as it perches in open, airy positions within trees or shrubs.
When to spot
Generally observed during the breeding season, which varies geographically but typically occurs during the warmer or wet months when they are most vocal. Some populations are migratory.
File:Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus (female).jpg
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) female Tonle Sap.jpg
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) female Tonle Sap 2.jpg
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) male Tonle Sap.jpg
File:Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus (female).jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) female Tonle Sap.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) female Tonle Sap 2.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus querulus) male Tonle Sap.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
This species exhibits brood parasitism, laying its eggs in the nests of various small passerines. Young Plaintive Cuckoos often mimic the gape coloration of their host nestlings, further deceiving the parent birds.
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