Indian Cuckoo

Overview

The Indian cuckoo, also known as the short-winged cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), is a medium-sized bird found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is a solitary and shy species that inhabits forested regions, listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Medium-sized with grey upperparts and a underside featuring broad black barring.
• Tail is barred with a broad subterminal dark band and a white tip.
• Loud, four-note call transcribed as "orange-pekoe", "bo-ko-ta-ko", "crossword puzzle", or "one more bottle".
• Females are slightly paler on the throat with more brown on the breast and tail, and narrower belly barring than males.

Habitat

Found in deciduous and evergreen forests, open woodland, garden lands, and thick scrub at elevations up to 3,600 m. Its range extends from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and north to China and Russia. Some populations in India migrate south in winter, while others breed in southern areas.

Diet

Feeds primarily on hairy caterpillars and other insects, occasionally taking fruits. Forages in the upper canopy by gleaning insects, sometimes making aerial sallies for flying termites or hovering near the ground.

Did you know?

The loud call of the Indian cuckoo has inspired numerous cultural interpretations, such as "Bride, please speak" in Bengali and "thief stole jackfruit" in Malayalam. In China, the call is variously interpreted as phrases like "why not go home" or "mother-in-law beats me".