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Scythrops novaehollandiae
Channel-billed Cuckoo's are the largest of all Cuckoos at a whopping 60-70cm in adulthood. Juveniles, like the one shown here, are paler, with striped tail feathers, the adult being much darker on their back and wings. They have a large, downward curved bill and in flight, resemble a cross shape. It is a brood parasitic bird, laying it's eggs in the nests of members of the Crow family, a much smaller bird. When the young hatch, rather than ejecting it's competition, it merely outgrows them and they starve to death. The size difference is incredible, as seen in the 2nd photo here. How the poor parent must struggle to feed this baby! It's cries were what drew me to investigate in the first place, it's endless "Kark", uninterupted, only by it's feeding. These birds migrate from New Guinea and Indonesia to Australia between August and October, leaving in February/ March. Often named Storm Birds, for their breeding calls during the North Australian wet season. They feed mainly on figs and fruits and seeds, occasionally on eggs, insects and baby birds.
Found in tall open forests where host species occurs. In Australia, they are found from NE Western Australia, across the top and around the east coast of Qld, down so far as Sydney, NSW.
Spotted on Jan 1, 2018
Submitted on Mar 31, 2018
4 Comments
I can understand why Neil, it was that endless crying that bought me outside to start with. Thank goodness they're not here all year round!
Poor crow. I had one in Sydney many years ago. He drove the neighbourhood crazy, so-much-so that the neighbourhood wanted to move to a new neighbourhood. I was waiting for someone to take the law into their own hands. No one did. I'm sure the masses would have applauded had they.
He sure was Neil, he was in one of our Norfolk Island Pines. So so noisy. I think it was a Torresian Crow, Neil.
Was this fellow hanging around your house, Leanne. They are noisy and persistent squawkers. Beautiful, but nosiy. Nice spotting. Is the hapless parent a kurrawong?