Little Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia ruficeps
The Little Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia ruficeps) is a rare doves and pigeon found in 6 countries, weighing about 82 g. The little cuckoo-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
About the Little Cuckoo-Dove
The little cuckoo-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is a reddish brown pigeon, and is found in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is listed as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Brunei.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Little Cuckoo-Dove?
- 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). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Little Cuckoo-Dove?
- The Little Cuckoo-Dove is a medium sized bird weighing about 82 g.
- Where can you see a Little Cuckoo-Dove?
- The Little Cuckoo-Dove occurs in 6 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor-Leste and China.
- What birds look similar to a Little Cuckoo-Dove?
- The Little Cuckoo-Dove is most easily confused with the Barred Cuckoo-Dove, the Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove and the Philippine Cuckoo-Dove.
- Is the Little Cuckoo-Dove endangered?
- The Little Cuckoo-Dove is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Little Cuckoo-Dove for real
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