The Pheasant Coucal

The Pheasant Coucal might be considered a disgrace to the cuckoo family! Why? Because it builds it's own nest and raises it's own young. Not usual cuckoo behaviour at all.

Would you believe it's also dad that sits on the eggs, although both parents do help feed the chicks. These birds mate for life too. Sounds like that female has a pretty good deal. Wouldn't you agree?

The chicks, as you can see, are funny little things with top knots and backs that look rather like they have bits of dried grass all over them. Good camouflage since their nests are hidden in long grass. I think they're kind of cute, in an alien kind of way!

Photo by ibsut

This bird can be found right across the top of Australia and down the east coast of Queensland and NSW. It is also found in New Guinea and East Timor. They live in open woodland areas and prefer dense understory vegetation and long grasses. They also are often found on or near sugar cane plantations.

The Pheasant Coucal is quite a large bird measuring between 60 to 80 cms. They have short rounded wings and a long tail. In the breeding season their plumage is quite distinct and striking. The head, neck and underbelly is black and the wings and upper parts are a reddish brown with black and cream barring and orange bars on the tail (see pictures at right and above).Out of the breeding season the head and back are a reddy chestnut color and the underparts are a cinnamon brown with lots of bold white streaks (see picture below). Both sexes are alike although the female is larger.

Their diet includes large insects, frogs and lizards. They will also eat other bird's eggs and babies and the occassional small mammal.

Photo by markharper1

Yes! It's true. This year these "silly birds" decided to raise a family right here in our backyard. We've had so much rain this year that we haven't really been able to mow so the grass and weeds are really high and dense. Just what the Pheasant Coucal loves. They have been very secretive about it and we did not even know they were there until the youngsters were big enough to venture out of the nest.

They did not stay around long however. Once they were big enough to walk around, the whole family seemed to just disappear within a couple of days. Perhaps they will come back next year.

Photo by www.aviceda.org