Moluccan Drongo-Cuckoo

The Moluccan drongo-cuckoo is a dark cuckoo of Sulawesi, Buton and several islands in the northern Moluccas. Its scientific name is Surniculus musschenbroeki. Published identification of a juvenile in northern Sulawesi described black plumage densely marked with white spots, a conspicuous yellow gape and a very short tail. The broader accessible account provided range and taxonomy but no dependable adult measurements, so none are inferred from related drongo-cuckoos (Wikipedia general account; BirdingASIA 37).

The first published breeding information came from a juvenile watched in primary forest at about 200 m in Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park in November 2021. Two black-crowned white-eyes repeatedly brought it small arthropods, documenting that species as a foster host and providing evidence of brood parasitism. This is a single observed event rather than a complete account of host use, breeding season or diet across the cuckoo's range (BirdingASIA 37; published cuckoo host list).