Cuculidae

Howard and Moore (2003) divide the Cuculidae of East Asia into the Cuculinae, Phaenicophaeinae, and Centropodinae (the last a separate family under Sibley and Monroe).

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

Chinese: Cuckoos are known by the character 鹃 juān in Chinese, and official names on the Mainland all utilise this character in various combinations for different genera and species (see notes).

Traditionally, cuckoos of the genus Cuculus are known as 杜鹃 dù-juān. A plethora of other names exists, including子规 zǐ -guī, 杜宇 dù-yǔ, 催归 cuī -guī (urge return), 思归鸟 sī-guī-niǎo (think of return bird), 鶗鴂 or 鹈鴂 tíjué (old name), 谢豹 xiè-bào (thank leopard?), and 自自黑儿 zì-zì-hēir or 子子黑儿 zǐ-zǐ-hēir (colloquial).

Cuculus canorus (Common cuckoo) is also known as 布谷 bùgǔ or 布谷鸟 bùgǔ-niǎo, and 郭公 guōgōng. Cuculus micropterus (Short-winged or Indian cuckoo) is also known as 布谷 bùgǔ (from its call).

Japanese: Cuckoos also have a variety of names in Japanese:

Many literary names have been borrowed from Chinese.

The malcohas (not found in Japan) are named 'mock coucals'.

Vietnamese: Vietnamese names for the cuckoos include:

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