Rare term for the lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus); the common name is 時鳥 (ほととぎす).
See also: ホトトギス
The name 夕影鳥 sometimes appears in old texts as an alternative name for the lesser cuckoo.
The derivation is uncertain; the kanji 夕 (evening), 影 (shadow), and 鳥 (bird) may poetically describe the bird's crepuscular habits or its elusive nature.