Lesser Cuckoo
Cuculus poliocephalus
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 poliocephalus (Lesser Cuckoo)
About the Lesser Cuckoo
The lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is native to East Asia and the Himalayas; it winters to East Africa and Sri Lanka. In Japan, the bird is called hototogisu (ホトトギス/杜鵑) and frequently praised in senryu for its song.
It has been celebrated by numerous waka poets since the anthology Kokin wakashū (920). Sei Shōnagon in her essay The Pillow Book (1002) mentions a trip she and other courtiers mounted on just to hear this bird, and it was expected of them that they would compose poetry on the occasion. It is also the central image in poem 81 by Tokudaiji Sanesada in the anthology of 100 poems, the Hyakunin Isshu.
The Japanese haiku magazine Hototogisu takes its name from the bird, and the magazine's mastermind Masaoka Shiki's adopted pen name, Shiki (子規) also refers to the lesser cuckoo; shiki corresponds to the Chinese zǐguī (子規), which is an alias for its standard name dùjuān (杜鵑).
In Chinese, dùjuān is a generic name and the species' common name is xiāodùjuān (小杜鵑). In Korean literature, the song of the lesser cuckoo represents the sound of sadness. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lesser Cuckoo in Taroko National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Taroko National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikko National Park | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 2 | Jiuzhaigou National Park | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 3 | Khangchendzonga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Langtang National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 5 | Taroko National Park | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | |
| 6 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 7 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Horton Plains National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 9 | Wilpattu National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 10 | Yala National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 11 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 12 | Royal Manas National Park | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | |
| 13 | Namdapha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 14 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 15 | Manas National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Cuckoo in Taroko National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Cuckoo sighting in Taroko National Park, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lesser Cuckoo in Taroko National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Cuckoo in Taroko National Park in our monthly data.