Pallid Cuckoo
Cuculus pallidus
Silhouette: Nicolas Huet le Jeune and Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCuculiformes (Cuckoos)
- FamilyCuculidae (Cuckoos)
- GenusCuculus (Typical Old World Cuckoos)
- SpeciesCuculus pallidus (Pallid Cuckoo)
About the Pallid Cuckoo
The pallid cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Heteroscenes. It is found in Australia, with some migration to the islands of Timor and Papua New Guinea. It is between 28 and 33 cm (11 and 13 in) in size, with distinctive markings such as a dark bill, a dark eye with a gold eye-ring and olive grey feet which differentiate it from other cuckoos. The pallid cuckoo is similar in appearance to the oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus), with barred immature pallid cuckoos being often mistaken for oriental cuckoos.
English ornithologist John Latham described the pallid cuckoo in 1801 as Columba pallida "pale pigeon". Sources differ in the genera placement of this species. It is commonly placed in Cuculus, but genetic evidence and its song support its placement in Cacomantis, with its closest relative the white-crowned cuckoo (Cacomantis leucolophus).
"Pallid cuckoo" has been designated the official name by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). Other common names include unadorned cuckoo, semitone-bird, scale-bird, and brain-fever bird—from its monotonous repetitive call. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pallid Cuckoo in Kakadu National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kakadu National Park
Oriental Cuckoo
Cuculus optatus
Pheasant Coucal
Centropus phasianinus
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Cacomantis variolosus
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Scythrops novaehollandiae
Little Bronze Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx minutillus
Black-Eared Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx osculans
Pacific Koel
Eudynamys orientalis
Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx basalis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pallid Cuckoo in Kakadu National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Pallid Cuckoo sighting in Kakadu National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pallid Cuckoo in Kakadu National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Pallid Cuckoo in Kakadu National Park in our monthly data.