Photo: Creepanta / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Cuckoo
Cuculus micropterus
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 88.8 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 Cuculus
- Species micropterus
Where it lives
Widespread India through southeastern, northeastern Asia to Greater Sundas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 88.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian 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 Indian Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) is a species of bird in the Cuculidae family, part of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, PAL widespread India through se, ne Asia to Greater Sundas.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 88.8 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 14.6 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 10.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Cuckoo?
The Indian Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 88.8 g.
Where does the Indian Cuckoo live?
The Indian Cuckoo is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, PAL widespread India through se, ne Asia to Greater Sundas, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Indian Cuckoo belong to?
The Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Indian Cuckoo eat?
The Indian Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Indian Cuckoo migrate?
The Indian Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian 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 Indian Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Indian 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 Indian Cuckoo's range?
The Indian Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 10.1 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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