Endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, this extraordinary bird is a member of the ground cuckoos, a rare group that defies almost every stereotype about cuckoos. Unlike their tree-dwelling, brood-parasitic relatives, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is a secretive forest dweller, walking the shadowy floor of tropical rainforests and raising its young. It was believed to be extinct for nearly a century, until its dramatic rediscovery in the late 20th century stunned ornithologists and renewed hope for one of Southeast Asia’s most enigmatic species.

The Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is a large and striking bird. It has a long tail and strong legs, perfectly adapted for life on the forest floor, where it moves with surprising grace and agility. Its plumage is a work of subtle beauty—glossy greenish-black on the upperparts and iridescent emerald and bronze hues that shimmer in filtered sunlight. The underparts are pale, while the head and neck feature bare patches of vivid blue and red skin, which may change color slightly during courtship or excitement. Its long, curved bill is strong and sharp-edged, ideal for flipping leaf litter and capturing prey.

For most of the 20th century, the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo was believed extinct. The last confirmed sighting was in 1916, and for over 80 years, it vanished completely from the scientific record. Then, in 1997, a single bird was accidentally caught in a trap set for small mammals by a team of biologists in western Sumatra. This astonishing rediscovery confirmed that the species was still alive—and immediately sparked renewed interest in its conservation. In 2007, its calls were recorded for the first time, giving scientists a vital tool for surveying the population. Even today, sightings are extremely rare, and most information about the bird comes from camera traps and sound recordings deep within Sumatra’s Barisan Mountains and Kerinci Seblat National Park.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Indonesia

70-400

Official estimate

CR

2016

Sumatera