Oriental Cuckoo
NameOriental Cuckoo
Common NameOriental Cuckoo
Scientific NameCuculus optatus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)54
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)100
Plumage DetailsAdult males typically have a grey head, nape, and upperparts, with a paler grey throat and upper breast. The lower breast and belly are white with distinct dark barring. The tail is dark with white spots on the outer feathers, and it has a prominent yellow eye-ring and a dark bill with a yellowish base to the lower mandible.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is a distinctive, often melancholic, three-note call, typically described as 'hoop-hoop-hoop' or 'poo-poo-poo'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across a wide range in northern Asia, including Siberia, Mongolia, China, Korea, and Japan. It migrates south for the winter to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
Identifying FeaturesGrey head and upperparts, Barred white underparts, Yellow eye-ring, Long, dark tail with white spots, Slender cuckoo body shape
Description
The Oriental Cuckoo is a medium-sized, slender bird known for its brood parasitic behavior, laying eggs in the nests of other species. It is a migratory species, breeding across northern Asia and wintering in Southeast Asia and Australia.
