The rufous morph is reddish-brown above, paler on the underparts and with strong dark bands all over including the rump.

The vent is usually white with dark bars but is more similar to Oriental cuckoo in a few individuals.

Birds of the rufous morph have a plain rump with no dark bars unlike the Oriental cuckoo.

[1] The exact extent of its wintering range is uncertain due to its secretive habits and the difficulty of separating it from the Himalayan cuckoo and other similar species.

It is believed to include the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, western Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and northern and eastern Australia with occasional birds reaching New Zealand.

It usually arrives later (end of April) to the breeding grounds in southern Russia than sympatric common cuckoo.

The eggs are smooth, slightly glossy and vary in colour, sometimes mimicking those of the host species.

The young cuckoo is born naked and has an orange gape with black patches.