Jacobin Cuckoo

Overview

The Jacobin cuckoo, also known as the pied cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo, is a medium-sized bird found across Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and is often considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains in India due to the timing of its arrival. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Medium-sized, slim black and white cuckoo with a distinctive crest.
• Unmistakable even in flight due to a white wing patch on the black wing.
• Very vocal during the breeding season, producing a ringing series of whistling notes described as "piu-piu".

Habitat

The species is distributed south of the Sahara in Africa and south of the Himalayas in India, including Sri Lanka and parts of Myanmar. It inhabits thorny, dry scrub or open woodland, generally avoiding areas of dense forest or extremely dry environments.

Diet

These birds feed on insects, including hairy caterpillars picked up from near or on the ground, and sometimes consume fruits. Caterpillars are pressed from end to end to remove the guts before being swallowed.

Did you know?

In Indian mythology, the bird is associated with the chātaka, a creature described as having a beak atop its head that thirsts for rain. This species is also a brood parasite, with its nestlings claiming most of the parental attention and food, which can result in the starvation of the host's own young.