Large hawk-cuckoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Large hawk-cuckoo
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Hierococcyx
Species:	sparverioides
Synonyms
Cuculus sparverioides

The large hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides) is a type of cuckoo bird. It belongs to the Cuculidae family. These birds are known for their loud calls. They are also famous for being "brood parasites." This means they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.

This cuckoo is found in many parts of Asia. It lives in places like the Himalayas and East Asia. Many of these birds fly south for the winter. They are a bit bigger than the common hawk-cuckoo. Adult large hawk-cuckoos have a black patch on their chin. This helps tell them apart from the smaller common hawk-cuckoo.

Where Large Hawk-Cuckoos Live

You can find the large hawk-cuckoo in many countries. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, and China. They also live in India, Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia. Other places are Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. You might also see them in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Sometimes, a large hawk-cuckoo might fly to a place it doesn't usually live. For example, one was seen on Christmas Island. There is also a subspecies called H. s. bocki. This bird lives in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Many scientists think it is a separate species called the dark hawk-cuckoo.

Homes of the Large Hawk-Cuckoo

The large hawk-cuckoo likes to live in certain places. Its natural habitats are temperate forests. These are forests with moderate temperatures. They also live in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are found in warm coastal areas.

How Large Hawk-Cuckoos Behave

Large hawk-cuckoos are quite vocal during the summer. They often call out loudly. Their calls can continue long after the sun sets. However, when they move to their winter homes, they tend to be much quieter.

Brood Parasitism: Laying Eggs in Other Nests

Like many other cuckoos, the large hawk-cuckoo is a brood parasite. This means they do not build their own nests. Instead, the female cuckoo lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species. The "host" birds then raise the cuckoo chicks as their own.

Many birds, like some laughing-thrushes, can spot the cuckoo's eggs. For example, the Pterorhinus sannio can often tell the difference. If they find a cuckoo egg, they might remove it from their nest. To avoid this, cuckoos lay eggs that look very similar to the eggs of their chosen host birds. This trick helps their eggs blend in.