Hierococcyx
| Hierococcyx | |
|---|---|
| Philippine hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx pectoralis) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Cuculiformes |
| Family: | Cuculidae |
| Genus: | Hierococcyx Müller, 1845 |
| Type species | |
| Cuculus fugax Horsfield, 1821 | |
| Species | |
|
8, see text | |
Hierococcyx or hawk-cuckoos is a genus of birds in the family Cuculidae. They are distributed in South, Southeast, and East Asia. The resemblance to hawks gives this group the generic name of hawk-cuckoos.
They are known to vocalize at their breeding grounds, making identification based on calls easy.
It is sometimes included in the genus Cuculus.
It's similarity to hawks gave rise to an ancient belief that cuckoos transformed themself into hawks during the winter months, when cuckoos disappeared from Europe.