Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx varius
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 103 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 varius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 103 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India to Myanmar.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 103 g, with a wing length of about 19.1 cm and a tail of around 16.1 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 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Hawk-Cuckoo?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 103 g.
Where does the Common Hawk-Cuckoo live?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India to Myanmar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Common Hawk-Cuckoo belong to?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Common Hawk-Cuckoo eat?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Hawk-Cuckoo migrate?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common 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 Common Hawk-Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Common 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 Common Hawk-Cuckoo's range?
The Common Hawk-Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 3.2 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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