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Typical gray cuckoo, indistinguishable from Himalayan Cuckoo in the field by plumage.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyCuckoos
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatClosed forest, Grassland, Open woodland, Sparse woodland, and Waterbodies
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from December to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Manuel Oudard
Range map
Range map
468visible hotspots
3382visible records
4states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Dark bands on the breast average broader in Oriental. 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.
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