Brown Cuckoo-Dove vs Little Cuckoo-Dove

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia phasianella

Medium237 g

The brown cuckoo-dove is from 40 to 43 centimetres (16 to 17 in) in length. The feathers are a rich rusty-brown colour, and the short wings, long tail and back are darker. The males tend to have a slight rose/green colouration on their nape and neck. The call of this dove is a very loud "whoop-a whoop" with some differences depending on the subspecies involved. The brown cuckoo-dove inhabits rainforest, woodland, scrubland and rainforest regrowth areas. The doves can often be seen in pairs or groups. Its diet consists of berries from both native plants and introduced weed species.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Tatiana Gerus · CC BY 2.0

Little Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia ruficeps

Medium82 gForest

The little cuckoo-dove is a reddish brown pigeon, measuring 27 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) in length, and weighing 74 to 88 g (2.6 to 3.1 oz). It has cinnamon buff plumage. It has greyish white irides. The beak is brown, and has a black tip. The feet are coral red in colour. The tail is long, and it differentiates the little cuckoo-dove from other sympatric (species existing in the same geographic area and thus frequently encountering one another) pigeons. Little cuckoo-doves travel in loose flocks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kalvin Chan · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brown Cuckoo-Dove and Little Cuckoo-Dove.