Dark Hawk-Cuckoo vs Saint Helena Cuckoo

Hierococcyx bocki compared with Nannococcyx psix

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Dark Hawk-Cuckoo Saint Helena Cuckoo
Scientific Name Hierococcyx bocki Nannococcyx psix
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Extinct
Length
Wingspan 35.9 cm (14.1 in)
Weight 137.0 g (4.83 oz) 171.0 g (6.03 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo only

None

Saint Helena Cuckoo only

None

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Song & Call Comparison

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Song

Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.

Saint Helena Cuckoo

Song

Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from dense island forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Extinct

Saint Helena Cuckoo

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How to Tell Them Apart

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Plumage

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo: dark brown above; pale below with dense dark barring; hawk-like; long barred tail; yellow orbital ring; dark morph

Saint Helena Cuckoo

Plumage

Saint Helena Cuckoo: extinct; brown above; pale below; long graduated tail; island cuckoo; known only from subfossil remains

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About These Birds

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx bocki) — 28–31 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with darker streaking; barred tail. Restricted to montane forest of the Malay Peninsula. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Rare; poorly documented.

Saint Helena Cuckoo

Saint Helena Cuckoo (Nannococcyx psix) — ~25 cm. Extinct. Known only from subfossil remains from Saint Helena, South Atlantic. A small cuckoo inferred from bone morphology; likely became extinct following human colonisation of the island in the 16th century and the introduction of predators.

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