If one was asked to list which species, among those birds occurring in Khao Yai National Park, are the most difficult to see, it is a safe bet that the Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo would be among those chosen. When; as a holidaying birdwatcher in 1979, Paul Dukes and I stumbled across the ground-cuckoo feeling on a small rubbish tip, on a forest trail in Khao Yai in January 1979, we were unaware of the significance of the find. Very few birdwatcher and previously ever watched this bird in the field, but we had now discovered a reliable “stake-out”. For a brief few months, during which ground-cuckoos were relatively easily seen, those hardy enough to withstand the smell of rotting rubbish and the hordes of flies could, by sitting concealed and waiting, be almost sure of getting good views of this extremely shy and secretive bird.

Shortly afterward , use of the rubbish tip was discontinued. The present tip is situated in open grassland and while it may attract junglefowl and the occasional tiger, it is far too exposed for the Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo. Nonetheless, as more and more people take up birdwatching, sightings of the ground-cuckoos are increasingly frequent. Most observers get only fleeing views while stalking along forest trails, though occasionally, someone is rewarded by a longer sighting. A tape of the call may sometimes be use to lure the ground-cuckoos, for its vocalizations (a loud, mournfull rolling who-ooo, together with peculiar bubbling and gargling sounds) are now well known and are heard mostly during February to June. The bubbling and gargling notes are given by the members of a pair in a duet. McClure (Nat Hist Bull Siam Soc.25:p.124;1974) describes bowing and tail-raising behaviour from one bird (thought to be the male) in apparent courtship with a second individual.

Judging the frequency with which calls are heard, the ground-cuckoo is a fairly numerous and widely-distributed bird in Khao Yai National Park. It has also been found in logged, regenerating forest at Khao Soi Dao and in at least 4 other parks and sanctuaries in the eastern part of the country: Khao Ang Ru Nai; Nam Nao, Thung Salaeng Luang and Doi Pha Chang. It may prefer areas which are not too steep. The plateau country of Khao Yai, where it occurs up to around 100 m may be ideal terrain for the species, but some other areas where the species occurs may be less suitable. Because it is restricted to forest, it is certainly at risk from continuing habitat destruction. And even within parks and sanctuaries, it is clearly threatened by the activities of poachers who set snares to catch ground birds, especially pheasants and partridges but including the ground-cuckoo, for foot. The relatively large number of ground-cuckoos in collections, at Dusit Zoo and other aviaries, testifies to the large numbers trapped. For every single bird caught alive and unharmed, a great many others must be killed and eaten.

It is therefore important to learn more concerning the species' status: It should be searched for in other protected areas in the east and north-east of the country. It would also be useful to learn more concerning its altitudinal distribution. How high does it ascend the hill slopes and how does this differ between sites? In addition, it would be very valuable to learn more of its habits. In particular, the nest of the ground-cuckoo may be unknown to science. The Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo is distributed also throughout South and central Laos, Kampuchea and in Vietnam, The only other number of the genus, Carpococcyx radiceus , which is found in Sumatra and Borneo, is even less well known but is thought to be restricted to lowland forests. While much more habitat may still remain for this species, it must clearly be subject to the same threats as the Indochinese bird.

Philip D. Round
July 1989