Few people in Bangladesh haven’t heard of the cuckoo—a bird whose sweet melody fills the air, especially in spring. The sight of a cuckoo is often associated with nostalgia, giving rise to the saying, “You appear like a cuckoo in spring,” when someone is seen after a long time. Once a common resident bird throughout Bangladesh, cuckoos have become rare in recent years.
Cuckoos are arboreal birds, meaning they spend most of their time hopping between tree branches. They primarily feed on fruits, with banyan figs being a favorite. However, they also consume various insects. Male cuckoos have jet-black plumage, while females are lighter, with yellowish feathers dotted with black spots. Their eyes are strikingly red, distinguishing them from many other birds. Cuckoos prefer a solitary lifestyle, unlike many flocking birds, often perched high on tree branches.
Recently, a male cuckoo was spotted on a banyan tree in Sonarpara, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. The bird was feasting on ripe banyan figs, which thrived this spring.
Cuckoos are native to Bangladesh, India, and other South and Southeast Asian countries. Their range spans 9.73 million square kilometers worldwide. Despite habitat loss in some areas, their population remains stable, leading the IUCN to classify them as Least Concern on the conservation scale. In Bangladesh, they are protected under the country’s wildlife laws, ensuring their survival for future generations.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
