The Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris has got to have one of the most recognizable calls in the lowland forest of Borneo.  The first loud pi is followed, evenly timed, by a series of ascending pi.  As is the case with other cuckoos, such calls can be heard throughout the day and sometimes at night.  Spotting it may be a bit more difficult.

If you are visiting Mt Kinabalu between February and April, you would most likely hear the 3 note call of the Sunda Cuckoo Cuculus lepidus.  Reduced vocalisation during the other months of the year makes it more challenging  to look for then, even though it is a common resident here.  It used to be lumped together with Oriental Cuckoo but is now a species on its own, based on differences in size, call and plumage.

The usual comment associated with the Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus seems to be that of “often heard, seldom seen”. Most birders in the Greater Sunda region would be quite familiar with the four note call of this bird. From its tree top perch, the bird would make its territorial announcement, calling even in the middle of the night. One More Bottle! Cheers!