ML614772468

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We were about to wrap up the birding session when Prashantha Krishna suddenly exclaimed, 'Hey, some raptor bird is coming this way.' At the same time, we also noticed multiple smaller birds suddenly giving alarm calls. The bird was perching on a tree, not too high up. As PK looked at the bird, he told me, 'This is a cuckoo species, definitely not a common hawk cuckoo, but it strongly resembles the Large Hawk Cuckoo.' For the first few minutes, we could only see its backside and from some side angles. Later, the bird turned completely to face us. It was there for not more than a few minutes before flying inside a small bush (tree patch) and disappearing. Later, it again flew after one or two minutes to another woody patch, giving us a very good view (PK managed to take pictures). Unfortunately, I couldn't see this perch because I was standing at the spot where the bird was initially observed. As I tried to approach PK to see the bird, it flew further into the inner areas. The bird never made any calls. The bird we saw was not an adult but a juvenile. Brownish black beak, yellow eye ring, a yellow line starts from the base of the bill towards the eye, some rufous coloration marks on its neck (from behind-nape), brownish upperparts with some rufous coloration, thick barring on tail with rufous coloration. Thicker blackish streaks running from throat to below throat. Barrings on flanks, yellowish legs. Few images are available. These are completely lateritic areas with small woody patches, intermittent open areas, and larger forest patches as we walk ahead.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D850

Lens

200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

1600

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

4725 pixels x 3219 pixels

Original file size

5.04 MB