Meet the Shining Cuckoo | Pīpīwharauroa

The Shining Cuckoo, also known as the Pīpīwharauroa, is a small migratory bird that visits Aotearoa each spring. Slim and quick-moving, it has green-bronze upperparts, pale underparts, and a long tail, with a lighter, more delicate appearance than many native forest birds.

Shining Cuckoos are best known for their clear, repeated call, which signals the arrival of warmer months. They feed mainly on insects and spend much of their time high in trees, often going unseen despite being easily heard. Rather than building their own nests, Shining Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other small birds, relying on host parents to raise their young—a strategy that allows them to migrate back to the Pacific Islands at the end of summer.

Each Shining Cuckoo is handcrafted in Arrowtown by our Cheeky Beaks ceramics team. Individually shaped from white porcelain and carefully glazed, each piece reflects the bird’s slender form and subtle colouring. Gentle variations in glaze and finish make every shining cuckoo unique.

Suitable for indoor or outdoor display, the Shining Cuckoo brings a sense of seasonal rhythm and movement into your space. As with all Cheeky Beaks pieces, each one is handmade and one of a kind, with natural variations that reflect the making process.