About the Great Cuckoo-Dove
The great cuckoo-dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family, Columbidae. First described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824, it is found on New Guinea, several surrounding islands, and Wallacea, where it mainly inhabits primary forest and the forest edge. It is a large, distinctive pigeon, with a length of 47.5–52.5 cm (18.7–20.7 in) and a weight of 208–305 g (7.3–10.8 oz). In adults, the head, neck, and breast are whitish or blue-grey, the underparts are pale bluish-grey, the upperparts are chestnut-brown, and the outer wings are black. Females differ from males in having more yellowish irises and duller orbital skin. Juveniles are mainly dull grey-brown, with…
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ID tip
The great cuckoo-dove is a large and long-tailed pigeon, with a length of 47.5–52.5 cm (18.7–20.7 in) and a weight of 208–305 g (7.3–10.8 oz). A slight crest on the back of the head gives it a "big-headed" appearance. Birds of the nominate subspecies have the head, neck, and breast blue-grey or cream-white with a pale bluish-grey tinge, turning purplish grey on the back of the neck and upper back. The throat and belly are white, with the latter frequently having a pinkish tinge. The mantle, back, rump, and uppertail-coverts are chestnut-brown. Voice: The great cuckoo-dove has two distinct calls. The first call is a repeated, upslurred "cookuwook cookuwook cookuwook" resembling the call of the brown cuckoo-dove, but slower and more trisyllabic. The second call is a series of around 12 deep hoo notes, with the notes getting deeper and faster towards the end; this call has been described as resembling "insane laughter".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in July · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Pied Cuckoo-DoveReinwardtoena browniThe pied cuckoo-dove is a large and long-tailed pigeon, with a length of 40–46 cm (16–18 in) and a weight of 279–325 g (9.8–11.5 oz).
Crested Cuckoo-DoveReinwardtoena crassirostrisThe crested cuckoo-dove is a large and robust pigeon, with a length of 40–42 cm (16–17 in).
Learn the Great Cuckoo-Dove for real
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