Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo
Encyclopedia
The Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo, Cuculus fugax is a species of cuckoo
found in south
, east
and southeast Asia
.
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo is a brood parasite
. The chick evicts bona fide residents of the parasitized nest, thus becoming the sole occupant. Under normal circumstances, this would reduce the provisioning rate as the foster parents see only one gape
. To counteract this, the Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo displays gape-coloured patches of skin under its wing to simulate additional gapes; the strategy appears to increase the provisioning rate. This is in contrast to other species of cuckoo (such as the Common Cuckoo
) which increase the rapidity of high pitched hunger calls to increase the provisioning rate.
Although the skin patch is not gape-shaped, it is convincing: host parents occasionally place food into the patch.
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo was formerly regarded as having four subspecies
. The Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo
is now commonly treated as a separate species, C. pectoralis. The remaining forms are also sometimes split into three species: Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo (C. fugax), Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo (C. nisicolor) and Rufous Hawk-Cuckoo or Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (C. hyperythrus).
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
found in south
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, east
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo is a brood parasite
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
. The chick evicts bona fide residents of the parasitized nest, thus becoming the sole occupant. Under normal circumstances, this would reduce the provisioning rate as the foster parents see only one gape
Gape
In bird anatomy, the gape is the interior of the open mouth of a bird and the gape flange is the region where the two mandibles join together, at the base of the beak...
. To counteract this, the Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo displays gape-coloured patches of skin under its wing to simulate additional gapes; the strategy appears to increase the provisioning rate. This is in contrast to other species of cuckoo (such as the Common Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
The Common Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....
) which increase the rapidity of high pitched hunger calls to increase the provisioning rate.
Although the skin patch is not gape-shaped, it is convincing: host parents occasionally place food into the patch.
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo was formerly regarded as having four subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. The Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo
Philippine Hawk-cuckoo
The Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo is a bird belonging to the cuckoo family. It is found only in the Philippines. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo but is now commonly treated as a separate species based on differences in vocalizations.It is a medium-sized cuckoo, about...
is now commonly treated as a separate species, C. pectoralis. The remaining forms are also sometimes split into three species: Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo (C. fugax), Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo (C. nisicolor) and Rufous Hawk-Cuckoo or Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (C. hyperythrus).