Australian Cuckoos
There are 12 species of cuckoo in Australia, members of the Cuculidae family; 11 of them breed in Australia. All, except the Pheasant Coucal, are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species, often evicting the eggs of the host. Cuckoos feed on insects, insect larvae, as well as fruit. Many Australian species are partial migrants within Australia, and to New Guinea and Indonesia after breeding. Most have distinctive calls, but none have the famous “Cuckoo” of the European Cuckoo.
Photo: The Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (18 cm) inhabits forests and woodlands of east and south Australia, feeding predominantly on insects, especially caterpillars. There is also a New Zealand breeding sub-species that visits Australia on its journey north.
Pallid Cuckoos (34 cm) are seen Australia-wide in more open country, and feed on larger and otherwise less palatable insects. Their haunting, rising call can be heard across paddocks and valleys.
The Pheasant Coucal (75 cm) is the only Australian cuckoo to make its own nest and rear its young. Found in woodlands of Australia’s east, north and west. A ground dwelling bird of grasslands and thickets. Its call is a series of “gurgling notes”.
Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo (17 cm) is a common cuckoo seen Australia-wide, feeding on insects from trees in farmland and woodlands. Its call is a repeated sharp, descending whistle.
The Black-eared Cuckoo (21 cm) is another of the Bronze-Cuckoo family, widely spread across drier areas, but rarely seen. They often make their presence known by their long, descending and mournful call.
The Little Bronze-Cuckoo (15 cm) is Australia’s and the worlds smallest cuckoo. It is found across the far north and down the east coast of Australia.
A young Little Bronze-Cuckoo, seen in the Byron Bay Wetlands. Little Bronze-Cuckoos keep close to water, feeding on insects taken in the air as well as on the ground.
In many east coast towns and cities, the arrival of spring is heralded by the “Koo-el”call of the Eastern Koel (46 cm). Koels are fruit eaters found in gardens, across farmlands, woods and forests.
While the Asian Koel has black (crow like) offspring, the Eastern Koel juvenile and female has a brown and white plumage that will not spook their Noisy Miner, Magpie-lark or Figbird foster parents.
Fan-tailed Cuckoos (27 cm) inhabit the south and east of Australia, favoring treed but more open territory to hunt for insects.
The Brush Cuckoo (26 cm) has a similar plumage to the Fan-tailed Cuckoo. They are found in the north and along the east coast of Australia.
This juvenile Brush Cuckoo is waiting impatiently to be fed on the banks of a large pond. Already it is making the distinctive, descending whistles song of its species.
Mother arrives in the form of a diminutive female Superb Fairy-wren, with bee in beak ready for her hungry Brush Cuckoo foster offsping.
A raucous “awrrk..awrrk…awrrk” call anounces the arrival of the Channel-billed Cuckoo (65 cm), the worlds largest cuckoo. Found in the north and east woodlands, it uses its oversize bill to feed on large grasshoppers and locusts.
This Brush Cuckoo was photographed at the Broome golf course in northern West Australia. In the immediate vicinity were Pallid Cuckoos and Horsfields Cuckoos.