Himalayan Cuckoo

The Himalayan cuckoo, known scientifically as Cuculus saturatus, is a member of the Cuculidae family. This brood parasitic bird exhibits a striking appearance with its dark ashy-grey plumage above and a contrasting tail adorned with white spots and tips. The species is recognized for its breeding range that spans from the Himalayas to southern China and Taiwan, and its migratory patterns that lead it to southeast Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands during the winter months.

Identification Tips

Adult males of the Himalayan cuckoo are characterized by their dark ashy-grey upperparts and a brownish-black tail with white spotting. Their underparts are a lighter ash-grey, transitioning to white with black bars towards the abdomen. The vent area is white to milky orange with variable barring. Notably, the legs and feet can range from yellow to orange, and the eye-ring is typically yellow. Females are similar but may exhibit a rufous tinge on the breast and sometimes on the rump and upper tail-coverts. Juveniles are slate grey with white edges and a barred underbelly. The species measures approximately 30–35 cm in length and weighs between 70–140 grams.

Habitat

The Himalayan cuckoo inhabits mixed coniferous and deciduous forests, thickets, birches, mountain forests, and steppes with bushes during the warmer months. It is found at elevations ranging from 1500m to 4500m, depending on the region. In colder seasons, it resides in primary and secondary tropical forests, savannas, gardens, and teak plantations.

Distribution

This cuckoo is found across northeast Pakistan, the northern Indian subcontinent, and southern China during the breeding season. It migrates to southeast Asia and northern Australia, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Guinea, from October to May.

Behaviour

The Himalayan cuckoo is a solitary forager, primarily feeding on insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders. It may also consume fruits, pine shoots, and occasionally eggs or chicks from other birds' nests. The species is known to forage both arboreally and on the ground.

Song & Calls

The male's call is distinctive, consisting of a high note followed by three lower flat notes, reminiscent of a Common Hoopoe but lower-pitched. Females produce a bubbling "quick-quick-quick" sound. Vocalizations are most commonly heard at dawn and dusk.

Breeding

As a brood parasite, the female Himalayan cuckoo lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, such as flycatchers, shrikes, and white-eyes. The eggs vary in color and size, and the cuckoo chick may push out host eggs or chicks to monopolize parental care.

Similar Species

The Himalayan cuckoo is often confused with the Oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) due to their similar appearance. However, they can be distinguished by their calls and the broader, more widely spaced black bars on the wings of the Himalayan cuckoo.

Diet and Feeding

The Himalayan cuckoo's diet is predominantly insectivorous, with a preference for caterpillars from various families. It employs a method of removing the gut content before consumption and will also feed on other insects and occasionally fruits and plant material.

Conservation Status

The Himalayan cuckoo is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its population numbers are dependent on the preservation of forest habitats, and it is considered a common species in its range, with an estimated European population of 5,000 to 10,000 breeding pairs.