Everything about The Channel-billed Cuckoo totally explained
The
Channel-billed Cuckoo (
Scythrops novaehollandiae) is a species of
cuckoo in the
Cuculidae family. It is
monotypic within the genus
Scythrops. The species is the largest
brood parasite in the world, and the largest cuckoo.
It is found in
Australia,
Papua New Guinea and
Indonesia; additionally, it's vagrant in
New Caledonia and
New Zealand. The species is
migratory over part of its range. There are three
subspecies, one migratory, the other two resident. Its natural
habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland
forests and subtropical or tropical
mangrove forests. The species is listed as
least concern by the
IUCN.
Taxonomy
The only member of the genus
Scythrops, the Channel-billed Cuckoo was first described by ornithologist
John Latham in 1790. Its generic name is derived from the
Ancient Greek skuthro-/σκυθρο- 'angry' or 'sullen', and
ops/ωψ 'face', 'eye' or 'countenance'. The specific epithet
novaehollandiae means of
New Holland, hence Australian.
There are three
subspecies: the nominate
Scythrops novaehollandiae novaehollandiae of Australia, New Guinea and the
Moluccas,
Scythrops novaehollandiae fordi in
Sulawesi, and
Scythrops novaehollandiae schoddei in the
Bismarck Archipelago.
Description
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is the world's largest cuckoo, measuring between 58-66 cm (23–26
in) long and weighing between 550-930 grams (19.4–32.8 oz). The
bill is bi-coloured, with a grey base becoming straw-coloured at the tip. The bill is large slightly curved and reminiscent of the bills of
hornbills; in fact, the bird is sometimes erroneously referred to as a hornbill. The
plumage of the adult is pale grey on the head, chest, belly and back, becoming paler and barred lower down on the belly. The wings are darker grey with dark tips on the feathers. The tail is dark grey on top and barred underneath with a black band and white tip at the end. The feet and legs are black, and the eye is surrounded by prominent red skin. The Channel-billed Cuckoo is a strong
flier, with a distinctive, almost hawk-like cruciform flight silhouette. In flight the wingspan is around 1 m, with the wings held stiffly. There is some
sexual dimorphism in both plumage and dimensions, the female having a smaller bill and paler, more barred undersides.
The juvenile is similar to the adult but has pale tips to the feathers of the wings, and the rest of the plumage is buff instead of pale grey. The bill is less massive and dirty pink in colour, and the skin around the eye isn't red.
Distribution and movements
The Channel-billed Cuckoo has a widespread distribution across northern and eastern
Australia,
New Guinea, the
Bismarck Archipelago, and the islands of eastern
Indonesia was far west as
Sulawesi. The species is a permanent resident in the Bismarck Archipelago,
Flores and Sulawesi. Elsewhere within its range it's
migratory. Birds breeding in Australia range from north eastern
West Australia through the
Northern Territory and
Queensland down into eastern
New South Wales down as far as
Sydney. A few stragglers reach the eastern tip of
Victoria, but are not thought to breed there.
Vagrant birds have reached
New Zealand and
New Caledonia.
After the breeding season, in March and April, birds breeding in Australia begin to migrate northwards to their wintering grounds in New Guinea and Indonesia. Birds breeding in New South Wales begin leaving earlier, in February and March. Fruits taken include those of several species of
Ficus figs, the seeds of
eucalyptus trees, the fruits of trees in the family
Loranthaceae as well as the fruits of the
introduced Black Mulberry. Several eggs can be laid in a single nest, sometimes by different females. Often resembling those of currawongs and magpies (but not crows), the eggs vary in colour and pattern, measuring 48 x 32 mm. They can be a reddish- or yellowish-brown to dull white, with darker brown splotches. The incubation period for this species is unknown. Upon hatching the chicks are
altricial, being blind and naked. Unlike many other cuckoos, the chicks of the Channel-billed Cuckoo don't eject the other host eggs upon hatching or kill the host's chicks, but these seldom survive as the cuckoo chick is able to monopolise the supply of food. The chicks are fully feathered within four weeks, and leave the nest to clamber about on the branches, although chicks are fed for a number of weeks by the host parents after
fledging.
Relationship with humans
Channel-billed Cuckoos are often shy and retiring and are better known for their calls. In northern Australia their migration coincides with the beginning of the
rainy season, leading to the species being given a range of colloquial names such as storm-bird, flood-bird or rain-bird. In fact, it has benefited from human activities; along with the
Australian Koel its numbers have increased in some parts of its range due to increases in host species caused by extensive planting of gardens around Australian cities.
Further Information
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