Photo: Rejaul karim.rk / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Violet Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 22.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Chrysococcyx
- Species xanthorhynchus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Violet Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Violet Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India and se Asia to Philippines.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.4 g, with a wing length of about 10 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Violet Cuckoo?
The Violet Cuckoo is a small bird that weighs around 22.4 g.
Where does the Violet Cuckoo live?
The Violet Cuckoo is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India and se Asia to Philippines, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Violet Cuckoo belong to?
The Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Violet Cuckoo eat?
The Violet Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Violet Cuckoo migrate?
The Violet Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Violet Cuckoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Violet Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Violet Cuckoo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Violet Cuckoo's range?
The Violet Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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