Photo: Rejaul karim.rk / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx nisicolor
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast 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 nisicolor
Where it lives
Nepal and eastern Himalayas to Myanmar, Thailand and Hainan I.
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 Hodgson’s 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 Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Nepal and e Himalayas to Myanmar, Thailand and Hainan I.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 79.7 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 14.4 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 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 79.7 g.
Where does the Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo live?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Nepal and e Himalayas to Myanmar, Thailand and Hainan I, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo belong to?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo eat?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo migrate?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Hodgson’s 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 Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Hodgson’s 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 Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo's range?
The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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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