Photo: Alpsdake / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx hyperythrus
Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 79.7 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 Hierococcyx
- Species hyperythrus
Where it lives
Southeastern Siberia, Japan, Korean Pen. and northeastern China
Quick facts
- Weight
- 79.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Hawk-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 Northern Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Siberia, Japan, Korean Pen. and ne China.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 79.7 g, with a wing length of about 19.9 cm and a tail of around 14.9 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 2.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 79.7 g.
Where does the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo live?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Siberia, Japan, Korean Pen. and ne China, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo belong to?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx hyperythrus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo eat?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo migrate?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Hawk-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 Northern Hawk-Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Hawk-Cuckoo's range?
The Northern Hawk-Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 2.5 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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