Hierococcyx
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Hierococcyx or hawk-cuckoos is a genus of birds in the family Cuculidae. They are distributed in South, Southeast, and East Asia.[1] The resemblance to hawks gives this group the generic name of hawk-cuckoos.
They are known to vocalize at their breeding grounds, making identification based on calls easy. [2]
It is sometimes included in the genus Cuculus.
It's similarity to hawks gave rise to an ancient belief that cuckoos transformed themself into hawks during the winter months, when cuckoos disappeared from Europe. [3]
Mimicry
Hawk-cuckoos closely resemble accipiters in terms of appearance, an elongated body with long wings and tail, greyish or brownish upperparts with paler barred upperparts, as well as their swift direct flight. [4]
Apart from shape and colour, underpart barring tend to increase alarm in small parts. This form of batesian mimicry makes the cuckoo look dangerous to the host, reducing host agression or Mobbing (animal behavior), resulting in more opportunities for the cuckoo to perform brood parasitism.[5]
Species
There are eight species:[1]
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References
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