The monsoon rains will soon be drumming a happy rhythm on rooftops across India. And along with the cool breeze and the smell of fresh earth comes a sound that birders wait for all year – the calls of cuckoos! June is prime time for cuckoo spotting in India. Whether you’re in the bustling city or hiking in the hills, you’re bound to hear the signature tune of these birds. From the big Himalayan Cuckoo to the backyard buddy Common Hawk-Cuckoo, there’s a cuckoo party happening everywhere!
Get ready to participate in this month’s birding challenge: adding these crazy-calling cuckoos to your eBird list!
The challenge this month is to upload 25 eligible* checklists, with at least three of them containing a brood-parasitic cuckoo.
What birds are included in this list of brood-parasitic cuckoos? Here they are:
- Asian Koel
- Pied Cuckoo
- Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
- Large Hawk-cuckoo
- Common Hawk-cuckoo
- Hodgson’s Hawk-cuckoo
- Indian Cuckoo
- Eurasian Cuckoo
- Himalayan Cuckoo
- Lesser Cuckoo
- Banded Bay Cuckoo
- Plaintive Cuckoo
- Grey-bellied Cuckoo
- Asian Emerald Cuckoo
- Violet Cuckoo
- Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
- Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Please upload all your lists by 10 July 2024 so that we can announce the results soon after that.
* eligible checklists are those that report all species seen/heard (and are therefore marked ‘complete’), report numbers for all species rather than Xs, and are of at least 15 minutes or longer in duration.
Although not part of this month’s challenge, do consider adding sounds, photos, and behavioural comments. If you are observing/documenting breeding birds please choose the breeding behaviour codes. (Please note again, F and H are not breeding codes). For breeding birds, follow these practices: maintain a suitable distance; don’t use playback; don’t trample habitats where birds are likely to nest. If you fear that others may notice your observations and disturb the birds you have seen nesting, you can delay adding your comments or photographs for a few weeks. Please follow the basic principles of birding ethics, including in photography.
Here are details about eBird-India’s Yearlong Challenge for 2024.
You can keep track of fresh lists coming in from India on this page.
eBird Global Challenges: Watch this space to view June eBirder of the Month Challenge and check out the 2024 Checklist-a-day Challenge.
Header Image: Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolor © Garima Bhatia/ Macaulay Library
