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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Chant
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
Chant
Harsh, far-carrying call with raucous quality; loud rough notes carrying through dense tropical forest.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Statut de conservation
Least Concern
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Least Concern
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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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
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
Plumage
Great Spotted Cuckoo: gray above with white spots; pale below; long white-spotted dark tail; long pale crest; European migrant
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Common Squirrel-cuckoo (Piaya cayana) — 40–50 cm. Brilliant rufous-chestnut above and on breast; grey belly; yellow-green bill; very long tail with bold black-and-white tips. Widespread in forest and forest edge from Mexico to Bolivia and Argentina. Non-parasitic. Insectivore; agile forager in tree canopy catching large insects and caterpillars.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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