Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx sparverioides
大鹰鹃
Introduction
Hierococcyx sparverioides is a cuckoo species in the family Cuculidae. It has a wide breeding distribution from temperate Asia along the Himalayas extending to East Asia, with many populations wintering further south. The species is characterized by loud and repetitive calls similar to those of the common hawk-cuckoo but which do not rise in crescendo. Adults can be distinguished from the smaller common hawk-cuckoo by the distinctive black patch on the chin. This species is a brood parasite of babblers and laughing-thrushes.
Description
This is a relatively large hawk-cuckoo species. Adults are characterized by a distinctive black patch on the chin, which serves as a key identification feature. The plumage exhibits hawk-like characteristics typical of hawk-cuckoos, providing camouflage among tree branches. Compared to the common hawk-cuckoo, this species is notably larger in size.
Identification
Distinguished from the similar common hawk-cuckoo by its larger size and the presence of a black patch on the chin in adults. The vocalizations are similar to the common hawk-cuckoo but can be differentiated by the lack of a crescendo pattern in the calls. The hawk-like appearance and behavior can aid in identification when observed in flight or perching.
Distribution & Habitat
The species occurs across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, with vagrant occurrences on Christmas Island. The subspecies H. s. bocki of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo is typically treated as a separate species, the dark hawk-cuckoo. Its natural habitats include temperate forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.
Behavior & Ecology
The species calls during summer, with vocalizations continuing well after dusk. In wintering grounds, individuals tend to be silent. Like other cuckoos, it is a brood parasite. Many laughing-thrushes, particularly Pterorhinus sannio, can detect and remove cuckoo eggs, but the species compensates by laying eggs that mimic those of its hosts. Known host species include various babblers, laughing-thrushes, thrushes, flycatchers, and other passerines.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Hierococcyx
- eBird Code
- larhac2
Distribution
breeds from Himalayas of northeastern Pakistan eastward to southern China, and southwards to hills south of the Brahmaputra River to Taiwan; winters from southern India (Eastern and Western Ghats) eastwards to lowlands of the Thai-Malay Peninsula
Vocalizations
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 中文名由鹰鹃改为大鹰鹃
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.