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LC
Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus

IUCN Red List history

Year Category
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 -

Distribution

  Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 2,340,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 2,340,000 medium
Number of locations -
Fragmentation -

Population & trend

  Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals Unknown not applicable Not Applicable 0
Population trend Stable -
Number of subpopulations - - -
Largest subpopulation - - -
Generation length (yrs) 7 - - -
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 Occurrence status Extinct Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Afghanistan Unknown No      
Bangladesh Vagrant No      
Bhutan Native No Yes    
China (mainland) Native No      
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Native No      
Hong Kong (China) Vagrant No      
India Native No      
Japan Native No      
Kenya Native No      
Laos Vagrant No      
Malawi Native No      
Myanmar Native No      
Nepal Native No      
North Korea Native No Yes    
Pakistan Native No      
Russia (Asian) Native No      
Seychelles Vagrant No      
Somalia Vagrant No      
South Africa Vagrant No      
South Korea Native No Yes    
Sri Lanka Native No      
Tanzania Native No      
Thailand Vagrant No      
Vietnam Native No      
Zambia Native No      
Zimbabwe Native No      

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 (2013) Species factsheet: Cuculus poliocephalus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Least Concern
Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
Species name author Latham, 1790
Population size Unknown mature individuals
Population trend Stable
Distribution size (breeding/resident) 2,340,000 km2
Country endemic? No
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species
- Climate change species distributions