Bird Guide

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove vs Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia tenuirostris)

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia tenuirostris

Medium177 gForest

The Philippine cuckoo-dove is a large cuckoo-dove that measures 38.5 centimetres (15.2 in) in length, and weighs 157 to 191 g (5.5 to 6.7 oz). The head is cinnamon reddish brown in colour, and the uppermantle has an amethyst shine with small brown freckles. The hindneck has an amethyst shine too. The adult has an orange-reddish brown forehead, with a chestnut coloured crown and nape that have pinkish tinge. The irides are red, and the beak is brown. The ear coverts and neck-sides are also orange-reddish brown. The hindneck and breast-sides are shiny pinkish purple, and have black spots.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Chris Chafer from Penrith, Australia · CC BY 2.0
Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia doreya)

Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia doreya

237 gForest

They are typically about 35–37 centimetres (14–15 in) long. The males tend to have a slight rose/green colouration on their nape and neck. Many subspecies have whitish underparts, fine dark barring below and/or a whitish cap. The call of this dove is a very loud "whoop-a whoop" with some differences depending on the subspecies involved. Sultan's 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

Sonogram of the Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove
Recorded by Peter Wilton · Call · North Taliabu, Kepulauan Sula, North Maluku, Indonesia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Philippine Cuckoo-Dove and Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove.