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Oriental Cuckoo

Oriental Cuckoo

Cuculus optatus

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Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species

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View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Oriental Cuckoo

The Oriental cuckoo or Horsfield's cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) is a bird belonging to the genus Cuculus in the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Himalayan cuckoo (C. saturatus), with the name 'Oriental cuckoo' used for the combined species. Differences in voice and size suggest that it should be treated as a separate species. The binomial name Cuculus horsfieldi has often been used instead of Cuculus optatus, but is now usually considered to be a junior synonym.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Cuculus optatus
Family
Cuckoos
Order
Cuculiformes

Similar species

Other members of the cuckoos family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
  • Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
  • Common Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya cayana
  • Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus
  • Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
  • Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
  • Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus
  • Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox
  • Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
  • Mexican Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya mexicana
  • Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus
  • Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani

Know when the Oriental Cuckoo turns up near you

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