Pavonine Cuckoo
Dromococcyx pavoninus
The Pavonine Cuckoo (Dromococcyx pavoninus) is a rare cuckoo found in 9 countries, weighing about 46 g. The pavonine cuckoo is a Neotropical cuckoo with a long graduated tail and a short crest.
About the Pavonine Cuckoo
The pavonine cuckoo is a Neotropical cuckoo with a long graduated tail and a short crest. It is one of three species of Neotropical cuckoo which are known to be brood parasites.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The head and crest of this bird is rusty brown and the remaining plumage is mainly dark brown above and paler below, with a rich buff coloured supercilium, throat and breast. It is similar in appearance to the pheasant cuckoo but has a slightly different call and is larger overall. Additionally, the buff supercilium, throat and breast of the pheasant cuckoo is paler than in the pavonine cuckoo and the throat and breast of the pheasant cuckoo are heavily marked while those areas of the pavonine cuckoo have no dark spots or streaks.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: February, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pavonine Cuckoo?
- The head and crest of this bird is rusty brown and the remaining plumage is mainly dark brown above and paler below, with a rich buff coloured supercilium, throat and breast. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pavonine Cuckoo?
- The Pavonine Cuckoo is a small sized bird weighing about 46 g.
- Where can you see a Pavonine Cuckoo?
- The Pavonine Cuckoo occurs in 9 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Paraguay.
- What birds look similar to a Pavonine Cuckoo?
- The Pavonine Cuckoo is most easily confused with the Pheasant Cuckoo.
- Is the Pavonine Cuckoo endangered?
- The Pavonine Cuckoo is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Pavonine Cuckoo for real
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