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Common Hawk Cuckoo

Hierococcyx varius

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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22.5417, 88.3164

Field Notes

Description:

A Shikra (Accipiter badius) look alike in colouration. Ashy feathers. Legs bear tufts of feathers. Looks like its eyes are lined with yellow eye-liner.

Habitat:

This one was drying its feathers after a sharp spell of monsoon rains. It was sitting on the electric wire near a neighbours house. I had come out to put out the trash! No glasses on my nose...blurry outline but I knew it was special. Thankfully it gave me time to run in and get the camera; glasses too...all the while neighbours ASSURED me it was a pigeon!

Notes:

Also called Brain fever bird. Papiha in Hindi. Also Piu Kahan (Where is my beloved? ) which makes it a favourite of poets. All these names derive from what people think its call sounds like.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

thanks to you , i finally so a Papiha! Lovely indeed!
Armadeus.4 Thanks. My friend saw it a few days back on her clothes line...this is the second spotting of this bird in our neighbourhood. Hema!! Isn't it a lovely bird...you'd think the poets woud choose a "softer-looking"bird but this one is a fighter with a seductive call. :)
So glad it stayed there for you! Fantastic find. Thank you for sharing the pics and info :)
lovely catch! Bole Re Papihara, Papihara.......................
Photographed
PublishedAugust 5, 2014

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