Alternative name: Rufous Hawk-Cuckoo
- Hierococcyx hyperythrus
Cuculus hyperythrus
Identification
30cm.
- Slate-grey upperparts with brownish wings
- Grey and black banded tail with broad black subterminal bar and rufous tip
- White moustache and supraloral area, white nape patch
- Pale rufous breast and belly with fine grey streaks
- Yellow eye-ring
- Yellow bill with black tip
Sexes similar. Juveniles with buff edged feathers, tail with a broad white tip and streaked and spotted black below.
Distribution
Breeds in China (Sichuan to northeast China and south to Yangtze valley), Ussuriland (Russia), Korea and southern Japan (Hondo).
Winters in southern China, southeast Asia, Borneo and Sulawesi.
Uncommon in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo, Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo and Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo.
Some authorities view Northern Hawk-Cuckoo as belonging to genus Cuculus.
Habitat
Found in deciduous semi-evergreen and evergreen forest. Also in secondary forest, bamboo thickets and plantations. Occurs up to 2300m in Japan.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects, mainly caterpillars. Takes also fruits and berries.
Forages in bushes and understorey.
Breeding
Breeding season apparently from June to September. A brood parasitic. Known host species in Japan is Siberian Blue Robin.
Movements
A migratory species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Northern Hawk-Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Northern_Hawk-Cuckoo
