{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{refimprove|date=February 2025}} {{Speciesbox | name = Violet cuckoo | image = {{Easy CSS image crop |image = Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus 546755187.jpg |desired_width = 220 |crop_left_perc = 20 |crop_right_perc = 30 |crop_top_perc = 10 |crop_bottom_perc = 0 |alt = }}
| image_caption = nominate subspecies | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus'' |volume=2018 |article-number=e.T22684003A130087571 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22684003A130087571.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Chrysococcyx | species = xanthorhynchus | authority = (Horsfield, 1821) | synonyms = }}
thumb|''C. x. amethystinus''<br>female, Bohol, Philippines The '''violet cuckoo''' ('''''Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus''''') is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.
==Description== The males have glossy violet feathers on the head and upper parts of the body. The blackish tail has a white tip, and barred outer feathers. The most spectacular feature is the brightly iridescent violet chin and upper breast. The belly is white with broad black, green or violet bars. Mature males also have a red eye-ring. The closely related species, C. amethystinus has a glossy blue-violet throat patch rather than reddish violet of this cuckoo.
The females have mottled, greenish-bronze upper parts and a dark brown crown. There are white markings around the eyes and sometimes on the forehead. The central tail feathers are greenish while the outer feathers are rufous with greenish bars. The outer rectrices are barred black and white. The breast is whitish with bronze-green bars and variably washed rufous markings.
Juveniles have barred rufous and greenish bronze feathers on the upper parts of the body, a bright rufous crown, rufous and mottled green or brown wings, a barred brown and rufous tail and brown-barred white under parts.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
==Distribution and habitat== The violet cuckoo is found from north-eastern India to Southeast Asia, Greater Sundas, Palawan and the Philippines. Southern populations are resident, while northern populations in locations such as Assam and Bangladesh appear to be migratory.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. It is also seen in gardens, orchards, and rubber plantations. It occurs from lowlands up to 1500m, but mainly below 700m.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
The species is reported to be uncommon throughout its range. However, because it has a wide range, the species is not considered to be threatened by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" /> However one source suggests that the species is threatened in areas of its range because of habitat loss.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
==Behaviour==
Violet cuckoos are insectivorous but they will also eat fruit. They have been seen shaking hairy caterpillars to remove the stomach contents for consumption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dna/organisms/details/328|title=Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus|website=The Dna of Singapore|access-date=4 February 2014}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> They forage by creeping up and down branches, but they can also flycatch on the wing.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Cuckoos are brood parasites and lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. The males are active and vocal during the breeding season in order to attract mates. Once they have mated, the females become secretive as they search for appropriate nests in which to lay their eggs.
Host species recorded for the violet cuckoo are sunbirds and spiderhunters (thirteen species of the genus ''Arachnothera'', small birds related to sunbirds).{{cn|date=February 2025}} Host species often recognise adult cuckoos as a threat and chase them off, but then do not recognise that the cuckoo eggs in the nest are aliens. Cuckoo chicks are usually larger than host chicks. The chicks of many cuckoo species have been observed to throw the host chicks out of the nest, although this behaviour has not been recorded for the violet cuckoo yet.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * Violet Cuckoo image from Andamans on INW [http://www.indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=22032] * Violet Cuckoo photos videos and sounds [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/violet-cuckoo-chrysococcyx-xanthorhynchus]
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violet cuckoo Category:Birds of Northeast India Category:Birds of Southeast Asia violet cuckoo Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Taxa named by Thomas Horsfield