Home › Aves › Cuculidae › Gray-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Gray-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus)
Cacomantis
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Forests woodlands scrub urban gardens
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Cuculiformes
FAMILY
Cuculidae
GENUS
Cacomantis
📋 Description
SIZE
21-24 cm long 20-30 g
COLORATION
Grey upperparts white underparts yellow eye-ring orange bill
ADAPTATIONS
Brood parasite small size for sneaking into host nests
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Forests woodlands scrub urban gardens
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent
REPRODUCTION
Lays 1 egg in host nests incubated 12-14 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects caterpillars small invertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Brood parasitism impacts hosts habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Stealthy Parasites: Gray-bellied Cuckoos sneak with 25-gram bodies eating 8 grams of insects daily in Kerala's woodlands. Their yellow eye-rings are subtle.
2
Monsoon Callers: These cuckoos cover 3000 sq km in Tamil Nadu's forests parasitizing warbler nests. Deforestation threatens their hosts.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala
Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
June-September Monsoon breeding enhances audibility for spotting cuckoos
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Listen for gray-bellied cuckoos' soft calls in dense foliage
