The arrival of the Jacobin Cuckoo or Pied Crested Cuckoo is believed to announce that the monsoon is here

The Pied Crested Cuckoo or Jacobin Cuckoo is a beautiful bird which visits India in the winter from Africa. I have been sighting this bird continuously for the past three years in and around Mysore, and the timing of its arrival has been impeccable — right at the onset of the monsoon. This time the first sighting was a couple of days before the exact date of the arrival of the monsoon.
I remember having seen it three years back on the outskirts of Mysore. I had barely begun birding at that time, and I was struck dumb by its stunning and unique appearance. The black-and-white body and the distinct crest were nothing short of stunning for me. It was really close to me and by the time I fumbled with my camera and got a couple of shots off, the bird had flown away. And both shots ended up blurred.
Last year we saw a pair again in the same vicinity and one of them got really close for photography. This year, I have sighted at least 20 Jacobin Cuckoos, in various parts, though my luck with photography was considerably less. But I got an opportunity to see one feeding on a caterpillar and got a record shot!
Text and Photos: Sandeep Somasekharan
Last year we saw a pair again in the same vicinity and one of them got really close for photography. This year, I have sighted at least 20 Jacobin Cuckoos, in various parts, though my luck with photography was considerably less. But I got an opportunity to see one feeding on a caterpillar and got a record shot!
Text and Photos: Sandeep Somasekharan
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