LC
Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 12,300,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 15,500,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 7 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be fairly common in several parts of its range (del Hoyo et al. 1997), while national population estimates include: c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in China; < c.100 breeding pairs and < c.50 individuals on migration in Taiwan; < c.100 breeding pairs and < c.50 individuals on migration in Korea; c.100-100,000 breeding pairs and c.50-10,000 individuals on migration in Japan and c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant uncertain
Bangladesh extant vagrant
Bhutan extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Hong Kong (China) extant vagrant
India extant native
Japan extant native
Kenya extant native
Laos extant vagrant
Malawi extant native
Myanmar extant native
Nepal extant native
North Korea extant native yes
Pakistan extant native
Russia extant native
Russia (Asian) extant native
Seychelles extant vagrant
Somalia extant vagrant
South Africa extant vagrant
South Korea extant native yes
Sri Lanka extant native
Tanzania extant native
Thailand extant vagrant
Vietnam extant native
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable non-breeding
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major non-breeding
Forest Temperate suitable non-breeding
Forest Temperate suitable breeding
Savanna Dry major non-breeding
Altitude 1500 - 3660 m Occasional altitudinal limits (min) 1200 m

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/lesser-cuckoo-cuculus-poliocephalus on 26/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 26/12/2024.