Dark Hawk-Cuckoo vs Blue-faced Malkoha

Hierococcyx bocki compared with Phaenicophaeus viridirostris

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Dark Hawk-Cuckoo Blue-faced Malkoha
Scientific Name Hierococcyx bocki Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 35.9 cm (14.1 in) 27.2 cm (10.7 in)
Weight 137.0 g (4.83 oz) 67.0 g (2.36 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- 2-3
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo only

Blue-faced Malkoha only

None

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Song

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

Blue-faced Malkoha

Song

Loud, raucous far-carrying call; harsh penetrating notes carrying well through dense forest habitat.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Least Concern

Blue-faced Malkoha

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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

Blue-faced Malkoha

Plumage

Yellowbill (African): yellow bill; plain olive-brown above; pale buff-white below; long graduated brown tail; African forest cuckoo

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

Blue-faced Malkoha

Blue-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris) — 38–42 cm. Green and chestnut; vivid bare blue orbital skin; green bill. Inhabits dry scrub and forest edge across peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Non-parasitic; builds a small cup nest in dense scrub. Insectivore and frugivore.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family