A Common Hawk Cuckoo spotted in Chitwan National Park. This species of cuckoo bears a close resemblance to the Shikra (fig.), a kind of hawk, even in style of flying and landing on a perch.

It is about 34 centimeters tall and the sexes are alike, with adults being ashy grey above and whitish with brownish-buff colouring below, that changes into brownish-buff crossed bars towards the belly. They have a broadly barred tail and a distinctive yellow eye-ring.