The caterpillars are dressed by removing their hairs before consumption. The Great Spotted Cuckoo generally feeds on the ground. They ordinarily hop through the foliage with their tails raised searching intently for prey. The male usually arrives first at the breeding grounds. Monogamous pairs in captivity form a pair-bond and accompany each other constantly.
Courtship is performed by feeding and invariably accompanies copulation.
The female indicates her interest by rhythmically jerking her body while keeping her wings closed. The female then grasps the food in her bill as the male bends his head downward. Both birds maintain a grip on the prey, which balances the male. The male settles low on the female and clutches both sides of her body with his legs. Copulation can last up to two minutes.