Bird guideOriental Cuckoo

Dark bands on the breast average broader in Oriental.

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyCuckoos
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatOutside the breeding season, the birds are usually silent.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from December to January.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Manuel Oudard

Range map

Range map

468visible hotspots
3382visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Both also extremely similar to Common and Lesser cuckoos, but with buffy rather than white vent. Brownish-yellow iris readily distinguishes Oriental from the smaller, darker-eyed Lesser Cuckoo.

Behavior

Best identified by song, a mellow series of “boop-boop” notes, given in flight or from a high (often concealed) perch. When not singing, quiet and unobtrusive, foraging solitarily in upper and middle levels of boreal forest and mixed woodlands.

Regional timing

Queensland
Peak: December to January2,509 records
New South Wales
Peak: March194 records
Northern Territory
Peak: November639 records
Western Australia
Peak: February19 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: February2 records

Commonly confused with

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