Nature Storyteller

The Shikra (Accipiter badius) and the Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) are two birds that confound even seasoned birders at first glance. Their raptor-like silhouettes, piercing yellow eyes, and grey-and-white plumage make them easy to mistake for each other. But scratch the surface, and a fascinating story of mimicry and adaptation unfolds.

Here’s a field-based guide to help you confidently identify whether that sharp-eyed bird in your backyard is a true raptor or a cuckoo in hawk’s clothing.

Taxonomy and Nature Comparison – Shikra vs Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Trait	Shikra	Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Image
Family	Accipitridae (raptors)	Cuculidae (cuckoos)
Diet	Carnivore (hunts prey)	Insectivore (feeds on caterpillars, insects)
Behavior	True predator	Mimic and brood parasite
Nature	Territorial, aggressive	Shy, secretive

Plumage and Markings

Upperparts:

Shikra: Uniform blue-grey or slate-grey upperparts with a subtle sheen.

Common Hawk-Cuckoo: Slightly duller grey; lacks the sharp contrast of a raptor.

Underparts:

Shikra: Finely barred rufous or chestnut underparts with tight horizontal stripes.

Hawk-Cuckoo: Coarser, looser dark grey barring on white or buff background.

Tail:

Shikra: Shorter tail with 3–4 narrow, evenly spaced dark bands.

Hawk-Cuckoo: Longer tail with broader, more contrasting black and grey bands and a white tip.

Legs:

Shikra: Yellow legs, strong talons (used to catch prey).

Hawk-Cuckoo: Slender yellow legs, weak claws (not built for catching prey).

Head and Facial Features

Eyes:

Both species have striking yellow irises, but in the field:

Shikra: Smaller head with flatter crown; intense, forward-staring gaze.

Hawk-Cuckoo: More rounded head, slightly raised crown, softer expression.

Beak:

Shikra: Strong, hooked beak typical of birds of prey.

Hawk-Cuckoo: Slender, slightly curved beak, more delicate.

Flight Pattern Comparison

Shikra: Classic raptor flight—short glides with rapid wingbeats, very direct and agile.

Hawk-Cuckoo: More erratic, weak flapping, gliding like a cuckoo; lacks the confident control of a Shikra.

Perching Behavior

Shikra: Perches openly, often high on bare branches, scanning surroundings with an upright stance.

Hawk-Cuckoo: Perches more secretly inside foliage or mid-canopy, often wagging its long tail.

Vocalization

Shikra: Sharp, repeated “kik-kik-kik” call, especially during breeding season or alarm.

Common Hawk-Cuckoo: The iconic “brain-fever, brain-fever!” rising call, often repeated for hours during the hot months.

Pro Tip: If the bird is calling loudly from within the trees, especially in summer—it’s almost always the cuckoo.

Seasonal Clues

Shikra: Resident throughout India all year round; often seen with young in nesting season.

Common Hawk-Cuckoo: Most vocal and visible from March to July (breeding season); more silent or absent during winter in north India.

Quick Comparison Table to Identify Shikra and Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Feature	Shikra	Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Eye Color	Yellow	Yellow
Underpart Barring	Fine and uniform	Coarse and spaced
Tail	Short, narrow bands	Long, broad bands, white tip
Beak	Strong, hooked	Slim, curved
Call	“Kik-kik-kik”	“Brain-fever!”
Hunting	Hunts birds, lizards	Gleans insects, caterpillars
Nesting	Builds nest	Lays in Jungle Babbler’s nest
Perch Posture	Upright, open	Tail wagging, semi-hidden

Why the Confusion Exists: Mimicry in Nature

The similarity between the two is not accidental. The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is a mimic, and this mimicry may serve to reduce mobbing by small birds. By resembling a predator, it avoids being attacked while sneaking around host nests to lay its eggs—a classic example of Batesian mimicry in birds.

Conclusion

The Shikra and the Common Hawk-Cuckoo share a visual resemblance but lead remarkably different lives, one a hunter, the other a mimic and parasite. By paying attention to tail length, call, flight style, and posture, you can reliably tell these two birds apart in the field.

So, the next time a raptor-like bird lands on a branch in your neighborhood or calls out in the blazing heat, take a closer look. It might just be the cuckoo that pretends to be a hawk.