Notes on Family: Cuculidae from Indian Subcontinent.

Notes on  Family: Cuculidae from Indian Subcontinent.

Introduction to Family: Cuculidae

The Cuckoos are belong to Family Cuculidae. Along with Cuckoos this family consist of other members like Koels, Malkoha, Coucals( which are found in India)  and some other members like Road runners, Anis, Couas. The taxanomy this family is very complex as some members are put under new families or subfamilies. The coucals and anis are sometimes separated as distinct families, the Centropodidae and Crotophagidae respectively.

In India Cuculidae family consist of 11 genus 24 species under this family. In world there about 130-135 living species( excluding prehistoric and extinct) belonging to 33 genus till now.

The genus wise distribution In India as follows

1.   Clamator : (Pied Cuckoo and other related member): 2 species

2.   Hierococcyx : (Hawk Cuckoo & others) : 3 species

3.   Cuculus : (Indian Cuckoo & other) : 4 species

4.   Cacomantis : ( Bay Cuckoo & others) : 3 species

5.   Chyrsococcyx: (Emerald Cuckoo & Violet Cuckoo) : 2 species

6.   Surniculus: (Drongo Cuckoo) : 1 species

7.   Eudynamys:( Asian Koel) : 1 species

8.   Rhopodytes: ( Malkoha & other) : 2 species

9.   Taccocua: ( Sirkeer Malkoha) : 1 species

10. Phaenicophaeus ( Red Faced Malkoha) 1 species

11. Centropus ( Coucals) : 5 species

(Source: Birds of India: Richard Grimmeett,Carol Inskipp & Tim Inskipp, 2nd Edition)

 Members of Cuckoo Family (Plate from Birds of India by Krys Kazmierzak)

 Lets understand about some  genus under Cuculidae family

1.   Clamator : (Pied Cuckoo and other related member) : 2 species

in Latin 'Clamator' means Spokesperson or Proclaimer.  The birds belongs to this genus are generally associated with Monsoon. These are large, slim , black and white cuckoos with a crest & graduated tail.They are very vocal during the breeding season.The species was initially placed under the genus names of Coccystes, Oxylophus before being placed in Clamator. All birds under this genus are Brood Parasitic Cuckoo ( I will discuss about Brood Parasitism in separate post).

Clamator cuckoos are birds of warm open scrubby habitats, but some species are at least partially migratory, leaving for warmer and wetter areas in winter.Sexes are similar but the juvenile plumage's are distinctive. 

In India we have 2 species under this genera which are  Jacobin Cuckoo( Clamator jacobinus) & Chestnut winged Cuckoo ( Clamator coromandus). refer picture 18 & 19 respectively.

2.   Hierococcyx : (Hawk cuckoo & others) : 3 species

This genus name is derived from two words Hieron & Coccyx. In Latin ' Hieron' means the one who illegally seize or control over process' and ' a Latin word coccyx, derived from a Greek word kokkux (or kokkyx), an onomatopoeic name for a cuckoo, based on the bird's call. This genus has birds who mimic like Hawk and has curved beaks. 

In India Common Hawk Cuckoo has widespread distribution. These Cuckoo are well known for Brood parasitism. As they take control over nest of birds like Drongo, Crow, babblers & warblers etc  by replacing  their eggs with own's. Thus they justified their genus name.  (Refer picture 7,8 & 9)

3.  Cuculus : (Indian Cuckoo and Eurasian Cuckoo): 3 species

In Latin cuculus (the cuckoo) and canorus (melodious; from canere, meaning to sing). The cuckoo family gets its common name and genus name  by onomatopoeia for the call of the male Common Cuckoo.

The species are  found widely distributed across India mainly towards eastern parts.. The preferred habitat is deciduous and evergreen forests but also occur in garden lands and thick scrub. While some are visited in India during monsoon like Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) [ refer 3] . these birds lays its single egg mostly in the nests of Drongos and Crows. they removes and eats an egg from the host nest before laying its own. 

In Kerala (India), Indian Cuckoo is called "Vishu Pakshi" (the Vishu bird) as it appears with its distinctive call around the Vishnu festival time in April. (Refer 3,4 &5  for Cuculus  genus members)

4.  Cacomantis  : (Bay Cuckoo & Plaintive Cuckoo) : 3 species 

The genus name is derived from the Greek kakos meaning evil or ill-boding and mantis for prophet and is derived from their association with "rains" being supposed to be predict ill fortune and bad weather. 

Most of them have a round nostril and are mainly in brown and grey colors. The tails are graduated and barred.  Incase of Banded Bay Cuckoo (Refer 11)The bars are transverse in and oblique in all others. In some cases  The adult female is  similar to the male but often occurs in a "hepatic" morph. This form is reddish-brown above with dark bars.

like other cuckoos  they are also  brood-parasitic and hosts recorded include the Common Iora, Bulbul, Minivet and small babblers. The eggs resemble those of the hosts.

Populations are either Residential  or partially migratory. In India, they are found mainly during the monsoons. Grey Bellied Cuckoo(Cacomantis passerinus) [refer 12] is quite widespread in Indian subcontinent while other 2 species i.e Banded Bay Cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii) and Plaintive Cuckoo ( Cacomatis merulinus) are mainly found in eastern parts of India.

5. Chrysococcyx : ( Asian Emerald Cuckoo and Violet Cuckoo) : 2 species 

This very unique genus and it has  is  the smallest parasitic cuckoos in India.  The generic name, Chrysococcyx, is a combination of two words: the Greek word chrusos = gold, any golden or shiny item , an obvious reference to the bird's shiny metallic plumage, and a Latin word coccyx, derived from a Greek word kokkux (or kokkyx), an onomatopoeic name for a cuckoo, based on the bird's call.

These birds sometimes also referred as 'Jewel Birds' due to their shining colors. In India there are 2 species and both are summer & monsoon visitor to north eastern parts.These birds are also brood parasite. (refer 1 & 2). The Violet Cuckoo, true to its name, was a striking hue of violet, especially under good light that got reflected off its plumage. During good lighting condition, it was conspicuous even when framed within the maze of haphazard stems. Shaded away from light, the plumage turns dark and it will be much more difficult to spot.  

Violet Cuckoo was impressive in catching caterpillars. It had a different technique for processing the prey before consumption. Instead of the usual bashing and thrashing of preys on a perch that was commonly used by other species, its method was to swing the prey in mid air

( For more details see this link www.besgroup.org)

6. Eudynamys : (Asian Koel) : 1 Species

Eudynamys genus consist of True Koel. These bird are large, with strong beak and tail. They are sexually dimorphic and mainly fruigivores. These birds are broodparasits and mainly lay eggs in Crows or Drongo nest. Asian Koel is only species found under this genus. In world 5 races of this bird usually found. In India Eudynamys scolopaceous scolopaceous is commonly found. The binomial nomenclature of this species is quite interesting. 

The generic name derives from a Greek word: Dynamene, a mythical Nereid of the sea's "power", a derivative of which, dunamis = power or might, combined with the prefix eu = good, well or normal, results in Eudynamys = good or strong Dynamene. True cuckoos of genus Cuculus have comparatively weak bills and legs. The Koel differs in that it has a more powerful bill and particularly strong tarsi and feet (Long 1833).

The origin of its binomial remains unclear. It derives from the Latin scolopax, from the Greek skolopakos = woodcock. The addition of a suffix, -acea or -aceus, leads to scolopaceous = snipe-like or scolopacine = belonging to snipe family of birds. In Modern Latin, scolopaceus = snipe-like, i.e. stripe-backed or long-billed. Since the Koel does not have a long snipe-like bill, the name could possibly be a reference to the female's cryptic striped coloration.

7. Phaenicophaeus : (  Red Faced Malkoha ): 1 species

Malkohas are large birds in the cuckoo family Cuculidae, all in the genus Phaenicophaeus. The group name is derived from the Sinhala word for the Red Face Malkoha ; Mal-Koha meaning flower-cuckoo. The genus name is derived from the ancient Greek phoiniko- "crimson", and phaes "eyes" or "face",referring to the Red-faced Malkoha. However, the 'œ' was mistranscribed as 'æ'

Red Faced Malkoha which is endemic to Sri Lanka. This is  a bird of dense forests, where it can be difficult to see despite its size and color.The Red-faced Malkoha takes a variety of insects including caterpillars, giant stick insects, mantises and small vertebrates such as lizard. It nests in a tree, the typical clutch being 2-3 eggs

8. Rhopodytes: ( Blue Faced Malkoha & other) : 2 species

Members of the genus Rhopodytes (often placed in Phaenicophaeus). Malkohas are noted for having a long tail, a stout bill with bristly base, and bare skin around the eyes. They are forest birds that move in a squirrel like manner along branches in thick vegetation. 

Out of 2 species,  Blue Faced Malkoha are mainly arboreal species while Sirkeer Malkoha show typical behavior like Coucal or Crow Pheasants( which are also part of cuckoo family). These birds are however non brood parasitic and prefers open or scrub forest.  All Malkoha's  make their saucer shape nest with twigs and grass or tree leaves  on trees. Their diet consist of variety of insects , small vertebrates etc.  Clutch size is 2-3. 

8. Centropus : (Coucal): 4 species 

The genus Centropus generally put under family Centropodiade. As per the evolution history these are also forms of Cuckoo so the exact taxonomic position is debatable. 

In India, Coucals has a wide distribution range that overlaps with several other similar species. The habitat in which it is found is often marshy land with grass and tree cover. It is distinguished by its smaller size, less prominent bill, pale shaft streaks on the feathers of the head and back. It has a much longer claw on its hind toe and a distinct call. It is also among the few coucals that show season plumage differences but like in other coucals, the sexes cannot be distinguished in the field.

Coucals have  reversed sexual size dimorphism, females being larger than males in all 12 species for which size data are available while Males perform most nest building, incubation, and feeding of young. These are monogamous nesting cuckoos.

 9.  Surniculus: (Drongo Cuckoo) : 1 species

The Asian Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris is a species of cuckoo that resembles a Black Drongo. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent  and Southeast Asia. It can be easily distinguished by its straight beak and the white barred vent. It is a brood parasite  on small babbler. It is not known how or whether the drongo-like appearance benefits this species but it is suspected that it aids in brood-parasitism just as hawk-cuckoos appear like hawks

(Refer 10)

source: wiki/Asian_Drongo-Cuckoo

Most species of cuckoo are sedentary, but some undertake regular seasonal migration and others undertake partial migrations over part of their range. The migration is either Diurnal or nocturnal.Species breeding at higher latitudes migrate to warmer climates during the winter due to food availability. 

Field Identification of Bushlarks(Genus: Mirafra)

The genus Mirafra contains the Bush-Larks, which are found in well-wooded districts. They frequently perch on bushes and low trees and they take short flights in the air. Their song is pleasant but weak. 

In Mirafra the bill is thick and short and the nostrils are quite exposed to view ; there are ten primaries in the wing, the first of which is about a half or a third the length of the second ; the hind claw is much longer than the hind toe and gently curved.

Larks From Genus: Mirafra  (Souce: Birds Of India, Krys Kazmierczak)

1. Singing Bushlark (Mirafra cantillans) 14cm

 In general looks similar to other bush lark but it has longer tail than other Mirafra members and slim build. The bill is smaller & less curvy. Very fine breast streaking, often confined to the side of breast. Breast buff-coloured, but whitish throat and upper breast distinct, especially when singing (not rich fulvous as in M. Assamica). The call is sharp and high pitch.

2.Indian Bushlark (Mirafra erythroptera) 14cm

As its species name indicate ‘erythroptera’ i.e red winged. It has prominent rufous color primaries than other bush larks. This bird has cheek patch completely bounded by white supercilium and post auricular border. Crown and upper parts heavily streaked. Pale underparts have large spots on the breast while belly has very less or no streaks. 

The Bengal Bush Lark was earlier classified into several races, the Bengal race assamica and the Madras race affinis. These were subsequently split, on the basis of diagnostic song and display characters, into the Jerdon's Bush Lark (Mirafra affinis) and Bengal Bushlark (M.assamica) in the strict sense. 

For more details please see link  Alstrom-Mirafra.pdf

3. Bengal Bushlark  (Mirafra assamica)

Crown& Nape has Brownish-grey and indistinctly streaked. Supercilium relatively indistinct. Ear coverts are brownish and poorly patterned. Rufous buff on under parts, with grey-brown or black diffused streaks on breast.

4.Jerdon’s Bushlark  (Mirafra affinis)

Crown & nape Brownish-buff or rufescent grey-brown, Prominent blackish- Brown streaks. At side of nape, a distinct yellow band is seen. Supercilium is relatively narrow and usually more buffish in front of eye.Ear coverts are pale grey brown with more dark streaks. Forming dark rear borders Underparts are paler and have strong, large streaks on breast often contrasting with under parts.

The differences within the genus Mirafra are often very subtle and confusing with many differences apparent only when specimens are examined in hand. Still this is small effort to enjoy field identification of Bushlarks.