Cuculidae / Họ Cu cu

杜鹃科 Dù-juān kē * 杜鵑科 Dù-juān kē *ホトトギス科 Hototogisu ka

General names

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.

There is a rich variety of names for the cuckoos in the Orient. This partly stems from a preoccupation with the cuckoo's distinctive calls in traditional culture, especially poetry.

Vietnamese names for the cuckoos include:

Name Species/genera
Cu cu Cuculus saturatus, C. poliocephalus, Surniculus lugubris
Chèo chẹo C. sparverioides and C. fugax
Bắt cô trói cột C. micropterus
Tìm vịt Chrysococcyx
Tu hú Eudynamys (Koel)
Khát nước Clamator
Phướn Malcohas and ground cuckoos
Coọc Phaenicophaeus tristis (Greater green-billed malcoha)

Traditionally, the word Đỗ quyên, borrowed from Chinese 杜鵑 dù-juān, referred to the cuckoo, but later the meaning changed and it now refers to the rails. Similarly for Đỗ vũ (杜宇 dù-yǔ).

Coucals

The Vietnamese word for 'coucal' is Bìm bịp, from the bird's cry of 'bìm bịp' during the breeding season (March-July).

Species names

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CUCULINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Clamator                
Clamator coromandus
link to photo
Chestnut-winged cuckoo
Red-winged crested cuckoo
Coucou à collier
Khát nước
'water thirsty'
  红翅凤头鹃
hóng-chì fèng-tóu juān
'red-winged phoenix-headed cuckoo'
Taiwan:
冠郭公
guàn guōgōng
'crested guogong'
カンムリカッコウ
(冠郭公)
kanmuri kakkō
'crested cuckoo'
นกคัคคูหงอน
nók-kák-ká-koo ngŏn
'crested cuckoo'
Sewah Kepak Merah Berjambul
'crested red-winged cuckoo'
Sewah Berjambul
'crested cuckoo'
Bubutpacar Jambul
'crested sweetheart-coucal'
Cuculus                
Cuculus sparverioides
Hierococcyx sparverioides
link to photolink to photo
Large hawk-cuckoo
Large hawk cuckoo
Coucou épervier
Chèo chẹo lớn
'large cheo cheo'
Ưng quyên
'hawk cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
鹰鹃
yīng-juān
'hawk cuckoo'
Taiwan:
鷹鵑
yīng-juān
'hawk cuckoo'
オオジュウイチ
(大十一)
ō jū-ichi
'large ju-ichi' (see jū-ichi below)
นกคัคคูเหยี่ยวใหญ่
nók-kák-ká-koo yìeow yài
'large hawk cuckoo'
Sewah Tekukur Besar
'large dove cuckoo'
Kangkok Besar
'large kangkok'
Cuculus fugax
Hierococcyx fugax
link to photo
Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo
Fugitive hawk cuckoo
Coucou fugitif
Chèo chẹo nhỏ
'small cheo cheo'
Chèo chẹo Hodgson
'Hodgson cheo cheo' (Wikipedia)
Tông phúc đỗ quyên
'reddish-brown bellied cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
棕腹杜鹃
zōng fù dù-juān
'reddish-brown-bellied cuckoo'
Taiwan:
棕腹杜鵑
zōng fù dù-juān
'reddish-brown-bellied cuckoo'
ジュウイチ
(十一)
jū-ichi
'ju-ichi' (from the bird's cry), written 'eleven'
นกคัคคูเหยี่ยวพันธุ์มลายู
nók-kák-ká-koo yìeow pan má-laai
'Malay species hawk cuckoo'
Sewah Hantu
'owl cuckoo'
Sewah Hodgson
'Hodgson cuckoo'
Kangkok Melayu
'Malay kangkok'
Cuculus micropterus
link to photo
Indian cuckoo
Short-winged cuckoo
Coucou à ailes courtes
Bắt cô trói cột
'bat co troi cot'
Cu cu Ấn Độ
'Indian cuckoo' (Wikipedia)
Tứ thanh đỗ quyên
'four-voiced cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
四声杜鹃
sì-shēng dù-juān
'four-voiced cuckoo'
Taiwan:
四聲杜鵑
sì-shēng dù-juān
'four-voiced cuckoo'
セグロカッコウ
(背黒郭公)
se-guro kakkō
'black-backed cuckoo'
นกคัคคูพันธุ์อินเดีย
nók-kák-ká-koo pan in-dia
'Indian species cuckoo'
Sewah India
'Indian cuckoo'
Kangkok India
'Indian kangkok'
Cuculus canorus
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Common cuckoo
or
Eurasian cuckoo
Cuckoo
Coucou gris
Cu cu
'cuckoo'
Cu cu thông thường
'common cuckoo' (Wikipedia)
Đại đỗ quyên
'large cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
Bố cốc
'bugu' (Chinese) (Wikipedia)
Quách công
'guo gong' (Chinese) (Wikipedia)
大杜鹃
dà dùjuān
'large cuckoo'
Taiwan:
大杜鵑
dà dùjuān
'large cuckoo'
Former Taiwan:
布谷
bùgǔ
'bugu'
カッコウ
(郭公)
kakkō
'cuckoo'(onomatopoeic, characters' meaning = 'city outer wall' + 'public')
นกคัคคูพันธุ์ยุโรป
nók-kák-ká-koo pan yú-rôhp
'European species cuckoo'
  Kangkok Erasia
'Eurasian kangkok'
Cuculus saturatus
link to photolink to photolink to photo
Himalayan cuckoo
Oriental cuckoo
Coucou oriental
Cu cu Phương đông
'Oriental cuckoo' (13)
Trung đỗ quyên
'medium cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
中杜鹃
zhōng dù-juān
'medium cuckoo'
Taiwan:
中杜鵑
zhōng dù-juān
'medium cuckoo'
Former Taiwan:
筒鳥
tǒng-niǎo
'tube bird'
ツツドリ
(筒鳥)
tsutsu-dori
'tube bird' (cry resembles sound of hitting a tube or pipe)
นกคัคคูพันธุ์หิมาลัย
nók-kák-ká-koo pan hì-maa-lai
'Himalayan species cuckoo'
Sewah Dada Putih (Puteh)
'white-breasted cuckoo'
Sewah Gunung
'mountain cuckoo'
Kangkok Ranting
'twig kangkok'
Cuculus poliocephalus
link to photolink to photo
Lesser cuckoo
Small cuckoo
Petit Coucou
Cu cu nhỏ
'small cuckoo'
Tiểu đỗ quyên
'small cuckoo' (from Chinese) (Wikipedia)
小杜鹃
xiǎo dù-juān
'small cuckoo'
Taiwan:
小杜鵑
xiǎo dù-juān
'small cuckoo'
ホトトギス
(時鳥, 子規, 杜鵑, 不如帰, 郭公)
hototogisu
'hototogisu' (written 1. 'time bird, 2. shiki (from Chinese), 3. token, from Chinese, 4. funyoki = better-go-back', 5. kakko, see Cuculus canorus above).
นกคัคคูเล็ก
nók-kák-ká-koo lék
'small cuckoo'
-  
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Cacomantis                
Cacomantis sonneratii
Penthoceryx sonneratii
Cuculus sonneratii
link to photo
Banded bay cuckoo
Coucou de Sonnerat
Tìm vịt vằn
'striped tim vit'
  栗斑杜鹃
lì-bān dùjuān
'chestnut striped cuckoo' (1, 2, 3, 4)
栗斑丛杜鹃
lì-bān cóng dùjuān
'chestnut-striped bush cuckoo' (5)
クリイロヒメカッコウ
(栗色姫郭公)
kuri-iro hime kakkō
'chestnut-coloured princess cuckoo''
นกคัคคูลาย
nók-kák-ká-koo laai
'patterned cuckoo'
Sewah Takuweh
'takuweh cuckoo'
Burung Takuweh
'takuweh bird'
Wiwik Lurik
'striated wiwik'
Cacomantis merulinus
Cuculus merulinus
Plaintive cuckoo
Coucou plaintif
Tìm vịt
'tim vit'
  八声杜鹃
bā-shēng dù-juān
'eight-voiced cuckoo'
Taiwan:
八聲杜鵑
bā-shēng dù-juān
'eight-voiced cuckoo'
ヒメカッコウ
(姫郭公)
hime kakkō
'princess cuckoo'
นกอีวาบตั๊กแตน
nók-ee-wâap dták-gà-dtaen
'grasshopper glistening- bird'
Sewah Mati Anak
'dead child cuckoo'
Burung Mati Anak
'dead child bird'
Wiwik Kelabu
'grey wiwik'
Chrysococcyx                
Chrysococcyx minutillus
Chalcites minutillus
link to photolink to photo
Little bronze cuckoo
Little bronze-cuckoo
Coucou menu
Tìm vịt trán trắng
'white-forehead tim vit'
  棕胸金鹃
zōng-xiōng jīn-juān
'reddish-brown breasted golden cuckoo' (4, 5)
小金鹃
xiǎo jīn-juān
'small golden cuckoo' (10)
テリカッコウ
(照り郭公)
teri-kakkō
'glossy cuckoo'
นกคัคคูสีทองแดง
nók-kák-ká-koo sĕe tong daeng
'copper-coloured cuckoo'
Sewah Daun
'leaf cuckoo'
Kedasi Laut
'sea kedasi'
Chrysococcyx maculatus
Chalcites maculatus
link to photo
Asian emerald cuckoo
Emerald cuckoo
Coucou émeraude
Tìm vịt xanh
'green tim vit'
  翠金鹃
cuì jīn-juān
'jade golden cuckoo'
ミドリテリカッコウ
(緑照り郭公)
midori teri-kakkō
'green glossy cuckoo'
นกคัคคูมรกต
nók-kák-ká-koo mor-rá-gòt
'emerald cuckoo'
Sewah Tanah
'land cuckoo'
Kedasi Zamrud
'emerald kedasi'
Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Chalcites xanthorhynchus
link to photo
Violet cuckoo
Coucou violet
Tìm vịt tím
'purple tim vit'
  紫金鹃
zǐ jīn-juān
'purple golden cuckoo'
スミレテリカッコウ
(すみれ照り郭公)
sumire teri-kakkō
'violet glossy cuckoo'
นกคัคคูสีม่วง
nók-kák-ká-koo sĕe-mûang
'purple cuckoo'
Sewah Rembah
'rembah cuckoo'
Sewah Ungu
'purple cuckoo'
Kedasi Ungu
'purple kedasi'
Surniculus                
Surniculus lugubris
link to photo
Asian drongo-cuckoo
Drongo cuckoo
Drongo-cuckoo
Coucou surnicou
Cu cu đen
'black cuckoo'
  乌鹃
wū-juān
'dark cuckoo'
Taiwan:
烏鵑
wū-juān
'dark cuckoo'
オウチュウカッコウ
(烏秋郭公)
ōchū kakkō
'drongo cuckoo'
นกคัคคูแซงแซว
nók-kák-ká-koo saeng-saew
'drongo cuckoo'
Sewah Sawai
'sawai cuckoo'
Burung Hamba Kera
'monkey slave ? bird'
Kedasi Hitam
'black kedasi'
Eudynamys                
Eudynamys scolopaceus
Eudynamys scolopacea
link to photolink to photo
Common koel
or
Asian koel
Koel
Coucou koël
Tu hú
'tu hu'
  噪鹃
zào-juān
'noisy cuckoo'
Taiwan:
噪鵑
zào-juān
'noisy cuckoo'
オニカッコウ
(鬼郭公)
oni kakkō
'ogre cuckoo'
นกกาเหว่า
nók-gaa hăy wâa
'hay-waa crow'
Sewah Tahu
'tahu cuckoo'
Tahu
'tahu'
Tuwur Asia
'Asian tuwur'
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
 
PHAENICOPHAEINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Rhopodytes                
Rhopodytes diardi
Phaenicophaeus diardi
link to photo
Black-bellied malkoha
Lesser green-billed malcoha
Malcoha de Diard
Phướn nhỏ
'small malcoha'
  绿嘴地鹃
lǜ-zuǐ dì-juān
'green-billed ground cuckoo' (4)
小绿嘴地鹃
xiǎo lǜ-zuǐ dì-juān
'small green-billed ground cuckoo' (5)
クロバンケンモドキ
(黒番鵑擬き)
kuro ban-ken modoki
'black pseudo-coucal'
นกบั้งรอกเล็กท้องเทา
nók-bâng-rôk lék tóng tao
'grey-bellied small malcoha'
Cenok Perut Hitam
'black-bellied malcoha'
Kadalan Beruang
'bear malcoha'
Rhopodytes tristis
Phaenicophaeus tristis
link to photolink to photo
Green-billed malkoha
Greater green-billed malcoha
Large green-billed malkoha
Malcoha sombre
Phướn
'malcoha'
or
Coọc
'cooc'
Giải phướn
'giai malcoha'
绿嘴地鹃
lǜ-zuǐ dì-juān
'green-billed ground cuckoo' (1, 2, 3, 5) See P. diardi above)
大绿嘴地鹃
dà lǜ-zuǐ dì-juān
'large green-billed ground cuckoo' (4)
オニグロバンケンモドキ
(鬼黒番鵑擬き)
oni guro ban-ken modoki
'ogre black pseudo-coucal'
นกบั้งรอกใหญ่
nók-bâng-rôk yài
'large malcoha'
Cenok Kera
'ape malcoha'
Kadalan Kera
'ape malcoha'
Carpococcyx                
Carpococcyx renauldi
link to photo
Coral-billed ground cuckoo
Coral-billed ground-cuckoo
Calobate de l'Annam
Phướn đất
'ground malcoha'
  瑞氏红嘴地鹃
Ruì-shì hóng-zuǐ dì-juān
'Mr Rui's red-billed ground cuckoo' (4)
珊瑚嘴地鹃
shānhu-zuǐ dì-juān
'coral-billed ground cuckoo' (5)
アカハシハシリジカッコウ
(赤嘴走地郭公)
aka-hashi hashiri ji-kakkō
'red-billed running ground cuckoo'
นกโกโรโกโส
nók goh-roh-goh-rôhk
'emaciated bird'
   
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
 
CENTROPODINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
VIETNAMESE
EAST ASIAN
S. E. ASIAN
Latin
English/French
Vietnamese
Other V
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Malay
Indonesian
Centropus                
Centropus sinensis
link to photolink to photo
Greater coucal
Common crow-pheasant
Common coucal
Crow-pheasant
Grand Coucal
Bìm bịp lờn
'large bim bip'
  褐翅鸦鹃
hè-chì yā-juān
'brown-winged crow cuckoo'
Taiwan:
褐翅鴉鵑
hè-chì yā-juān
'brown-winged crow cuckoo'
オオバンケン
(大番鵑)
ō banken
'large foreign cuckoo'
นกกระปูดใหญ่
nók-grà-bpòot yài
'large coucal'
Bubut Besar
'large coucal'
Bubut Besar
'large coucal'
Centropus bengalensis
link to photo
Lesser coucal
Lesser crow-pheasant
Coucal rufin
Bìm bịp nhỏ
'small bim bip'
  小鸦鹃
xiǎo yā-juān
'small crow cuckoo' (1, 2, 3, 4)
印度小鸦鹃
Yìndù xiǎo yā-juān
'Indian small crow cuckoo' (5)
›Note‹
Taiwan:
番鵑
fān-juān
'foreign cuckoo'
バンケン
(番鵑)
banken
'foreign cuckoo'
นกกระปูดเล็ก
nók-grà-bpòot lék
'small coucal'
Bubut Kecil
'small coucal'
Bubut Alang-alang
'reed coucal'
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