Manipur sees rising cuckoo populations amid higher temperatures

Imphal: Cuckoos, once a rare bird species and often portrayed as fictional characters in literary works for their sweet, enchanting calls, have increased in population in Manipur due to environmental and climate changes.

Rising temperatures have made the state more suitable for cuckoos, locally known as 'kokil.'

Various cuckoo species have been increasingly sighted in the state since 1980, and their presence indicates a shift toward hotter, more tropical conditions.

The Indian cuckoo has been reported in various parts of Manipur, including the Lamlongei-Shiv Mandir Trail and areas near Loktak Lake.

The plaintive cuckoo has also been sighted, particularly around the Loktak Lake area.

The Jacobin cuckoo, also known as the pied cuckoo, has been observed in regions like Thiyam Konjil in Manipur's Thoubal district.

A chestnut-winged cuckoo was rescued and released in Imphal in July 2025, and the common cuckoo has been recorded in the Lamphelpat wetland areas of Imphal West district.

As brood parasites, cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, such as the Chonga amubi (house myna), which then raise the cuckoo chicks.

Khangenbam Shamungou, environmentalist and bird watcher, stated that the increasing number of cuckoos in Manipur indicates biological and climate changes.

He added that cuckoos prefer hot weather conditions and that these species have been observed in the state since 1980.

Before the 1980s, the temperature in Manipur was recorded around 30 degrees Celsius with slight fluctuations.

However, due to deforestation, summer temperatures have risen to around 40 degrees Celsius in the state.