Wildlifeof Thailand
Oriental Cuckoo
Cuculidae
Photo: M. Nishimura · CC BY-SA 3.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Cuculus optatus
Basic stats
Diet
Insects, especially caterpillars
Habitat
Forest and woodland
Range
Northern and eastern Asia; winters in Southeast Asia and Australasia
Size
30–34cm
The Oriental cuckoo is a medium-sized grey cuckoo with barred white underparts and yellow feet and eye-ring. It closely resembles the common cuckoo but differs in voice and details of plumage. It breeds across northern and eastern Asian forest and migrates to Southeast Asia and Australasia, feeding largely on insects and caterpillars. Females lay in the nests of smaller insectivorous birds (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Least Concern (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Oriental Cuckoo eat?
- Insects, especially caterpillars
- What habitat does the Oriental Cuckoo live in?
- Forest and woodland
- Where is the Oriental Cuckoo found?
- Northern and eastern Asia; winters in Southeast Asia and Australasia
- How big is the Oriental Cuckoo?
- 30–34cm