Brainfever bird

A few words: If you've ever been walking through a forest when suddenly, a creepy three-note call carries through the trees again and again until it abruptly stops.  Congratulations! You've just had your first unnerving encounter with the brain-fever bird. Known for its disturbing call, the brain fever bird even looks like a complete wacko, and can be easily identified. All one has to do is look for yellow markings around crazed eyes.

Common name: Common hawk-cuckoo; brain-fever bird

Scientific name: Hierococcyx varius

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                               Phylum: Chordata
                                               Class: Aves
                                               Order: Cuculiformes
                                               Family: Cuculidae
                                               Genus: Hierococcyx
                                               Species: H. varius

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: It is found in most parts of the Indian sub-continent. Some birds go as far as Sri Lanka in the winter months.

Habitat: Arable land, tree groves, deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/369255


Distribution map:

Source: hbw.com