Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pallid Cuckoo
Heteroscenes pallidus
Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Australia & Oceania.
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The Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 87.7 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 Heteroscenes
- Species pallidus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 87.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pallid Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Pallid Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia and Tasmania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 87.7 g, with a wing length of about 18.6 cm and a tail of around 16.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pallid Cuckoo?
The Pallid Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 87.7 g.
Where does the Pallid Cuckoo live?
The Pallid Cuckoo is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia and Tasmania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pallid Cuckoo belong to?
The Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Pallid Cuckoo eat?
The Pallid Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pallid Cuckoo migrate?
The Pallid Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pallid 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.
How large is the Pallid Cuckoo's range?
The Pallid Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 7.7 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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