A monsoon visitor to the North. There is also a resident population in the South, but it appears the visitors to the North are from elsewhere, perhaps Africa.

The bird regularly arrives just before the monsoon. Its arrival in Bombay, for instance, is supposed to indicate that the first rains will fall within three days!

Pied Crested Cuckoos are found in twos or threes, actively flying from tree to tree. Their loud tinkling calls are usually the first sign of their presence.