This cuckoo occurs in the Admiralty Islands, including Manus. A 2022 revision treats it as distinct within the former broad Brush Cuckoo complex.
The species-level diagnosis describes a small body, a proportionally mid-length tail and a distinctly broad bill. The back is greyer, with a sharp division between grey and rufous on the underside; white bars on the outer tail feathers form fine tooth-like markings.
The species account identifies it as a brood parasite, but does not name a host or provide detailed habitat information.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.