Common Hawk Cuckoo

Description:

Ashy feathers, barred tail.

Habitat:

On a tree on the elevated embankment alongside the River Matla (Sunderbans area). This is a truly rural setting. Fertile alluvial soil means lush vegetation. The river can be seen because the tide was in. We actually saw a Whimbrel land on a strip of land near the water's edge and it took fright and immediately flew off (I just got a couple of hazy shots). Then we caught sight of this "SHIKRA" on a low branch and it flew down to the ground to pick up something. I knew then that it could not be a shikra...it had to be a mimic...by that time we were closer and saw that indeed it was the Common Hawk-cuckoo that mimics the sparrowhawks...shikra (Accipiter badius). The Whimbrel was spooked and I donot blame it.

Notes:

3rd photo is habitat shot.