Archaic name for the lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus). The modern common name is ホトトギス.
See also: ホトトギス
"死出田長" is an old alternate name for the lesser cuckoo found in historical texts.
The modern standard name for the lesser cuckoo. 死出田長 is an archaic synonym no longer in common use.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 死出田長 are ateji conventionally associated with the bird's call or folklore.