Plaintive Cuckoo (Cuculus merulinus). Size 22 cm (8.5 in). Male
has pale grey head, throat and upper breast. Lower rufous buff breast and
belly diagnostic. Mantle and wings dark greyish brown. Occurs in the Indian
Continent, southern China through South-East Asia to the Greater Sundas, and
Sulawesi. Resident in Malaysia at low elevation up to 1000 m south to
Singapore where it is said to be rare. Found in the forest edge, scrub and
plantations frequenting the crown of tall trees and sometimes descends to
catch insects on the ground. Very vocal with it typical 3 note whistle
followed by a rapidly descending sequence of slurred whistling notes.