Large, slender, long-tailed Old World Cuckoo with gray upperparts and black barring on belly. Slender dark bill with yellow base and yellow orbital ring. Male: Grayish upperparts, darkest on wings, with a paler gray throat and breast and whitish belly. Dark barring on belly with faint barring on undertail coverts. Gray morph female similar to male. Hepatic morph female: Rusty-brown upperparts with whitish underparts. Heavy dark barring on underparts, head, back, wings and tail. Rusty, unstreaked rump. Gray morph usually paler gray than the slightly smaller Oriental Cuckoo, with thinner barring on belly. Pale wing linings distinctive. Hepatic morph Oriental Cuckoo has dark barring on rump.

Length: 33 (cm) Wingspan: 73 (cm)

Habitat:

Found in open areas, woodlands, and near edges of reedy marshes.

Behavior:

Brood parasite. In flight, holds wings at a slightly upward angle. Droops wings when perched.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects, especially hairy caterpillars.