Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)
Order: CUCULIFORMES
Family: CUCULIDAE Cuckoos
Scientific name: Cacomantis merulinus
English name: Plaintive Cuckoo
Characteristic: "Size 50 cm. Our largest woodpecker. It is overall greyish in appearance with small pale spots on head. Chin to throat are pale yellow. A male has a small reddish patch at bill base, which is lacking in a female."
Distribution: "Northern India,SW China ,the Greater forest, where stands on large tree are existing."
Habitat: "Dipterocarp forest and dry evergreen forest, where stands on large trees are existing."
Habit: "Clinging vertically on a tree trunk and chiselling for boring grubs with its pointed bill.Breeding season is beween April - May, a pair nest in a large tree hollow and a female lays a clutch of 3 - 4 eggs."
Status: "Extremely scarce in Sakaerat area, where it is always seen actively foraging in cepuscular hours. Generally , a few can still be found in natural forest, especially in the north. Resident bird."
