The sirkeer malkoha or sirkeer cuckoo, is a non-parasitic cuckoo found in dry scrub forest and open woodland habitats in the Indian subcontinent. The species is long-tailed, largely olive brown on the upper side with a distinctive curved red beak tipped in yellow. They forage singly or in pairs mainly on or close to the ground creeping between grasses and bushes, often on rocky habitats where they feed on small lizards, insects, and sometimes berries and seeds. They are very silent and the sexes are identical in plumage.
Region
South Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs widely in dry scrub, thorny woodland, and open rocky hillsides across much of the Indian subcontinent. Prefers semi-arid landscapes with scattered bushes, ravines, and edges of cultivation. Often seen near stony outcrops and along hedgerows where cover is interspersed with open ground. Less common in dense moist forests and urban cores, favoring mosaic habitats with low shrubs.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The sirkeer malkoha is a ground-loving, non-parasitic cuckoo of dry scrub and thorn forests across the Indian subcontinent. Its thick, curved red bill with a yellow tip and a long, graduated tail make it easy to recognize. It often creeps through bushes and rocks in pairs, flushing insects and small reptiles. Despite its size, it is notably quiet and secretive, with sexes alike in plumage.
The narrow white streak over the eye is visible. (In Bharatpur)
![This illustration made by an Indian artist for General Thomas Hardwicke was used by Latham in his description of what is now the subspecies sirkee which was published by John Edward Gray in 1831.[10]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Sirkeer_Hardwicke.jpg/1280px-Sirkeer_Hardwicke.jpg)
This illustration made by an Indian artist for General Thomas Hardwicke was used by Latham in his description of what is now the subspecies sirkee which was published by John Edward Gray in 1831.[10]
Sirkeer malkohas tend to skulk in vegetation and are often only briefly visible
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides, usually low over ground
Social Behavior
Typically forages singly or in pairs, moving quietly through low scrub and grass. A non-parasitic cuckoo that builds a flimsy platform nest low in thorny bushes or small trees. Both sexes share incubation and feeding of the young, with small clutches of 2–3 eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Generally quiet, giving soft clucking tuk-tuk notes and low churring calls from cover. Alarmed birds produce faster, rattling series and harsh chatters. Vocalizations are subdued compared to many other cuckoos.
