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Channel-billed Cuckoo

(Scythrops novaehollandiae)
Alternative names: "Fig-hawk", "Hornbill", "Toucan", "Giant Cuckoo", "Storm-bird", "Rain-bird", "Flood-bird"
Size: 58-65 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Channel-billed Cuckoos migrate to Australia from the north, making landfall anywhere on the north ocast, from the Kimberleys in WA to Cape Melville in QLD. They populate the entire tropical north of the continent plus the eastern half of QLD and the north-eastern corner of NSW, including parts of the northern inland. They can be found as far west as e.g. Walgett, NSW. There are occasional reports of sightings further inland and in VIC and Tasmania.

Channel-billed Cuckoos can usually be found in (often dense) forest, with tall trees. As fruit eaters they are often found around native fig trees, but also on farms and in gardens.

Sightings

Narrabri, in north-western NSW, is located on the margins of the Channel-billed Cuckoo's habitat. In early October 2005 one bird flew a full circle above the house where we lived, 20 km south of Narrabri, and then disappeared before we could get a camera. However, the identification of the bird is certain.

Seen in the same year in Warrumbungle National Park, 30 km west of Coonabarabran, NSW.

Also heard by us at Sawn Rocks, 35 km north-east of Narrabri, in September 2008.

Spotted again in the area 20 km east of Narrabri, where we live since late 2006. In November 2006, when we arrived, at least two pairs of Channel-billed Cuckoos lived in the area. After their winter migration to the north, Channel-billed Cuckoos reappeared in September 2007. The following year, 2008, again they came in mid-September, on the second consecutive day of strong, warm northerly winds. One could see (and hear!) four birds in total, which was more than the year before (two), on a daily basis. Seen also in the 2009/10 breeding season.

In 2010 they appeared the day after storms associated with strong northerly winds, in early September. Last heard/seen round about February 2011.

Channel-billed Cuckoos were also spotted by us on the NSW north coast, e.g. at Urunga Heads, in January 2011.

Photos

Channel-billed Cuckoo in a eucalypt tree; note the "beard" and conspicuous red eyes

Frontal view of a Channel-billed Cuckoo trying to ward off an attack by an irate couple of Australian Magpies, who are potential hosts

Another bird trying to avoid detection...

... but another potential host, a Magpie-lark, is already on to it

Here a view of the shingled back of the same bird as above; note also the characteristic black subterminal band and white tips on the tail

Two birds after a feast in our mulberry tree; one is still holding a trophy in its bill

Only seconds later the bird in the upper right was hustled by a male Magpie-lark, a potential host for the cuckoo's eggs, near its nest

Channel-billed Cuckoo in flight; note the long slender body and the prominent bill; the wing shape makes it easy to mistake them for raptors, but the wing beat is unlike any raptor's

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan Eggs: 1 per nest Incubation period: ? Fledging age: ?

All parasitic cuckoos must obviously adapt their breeding seasons to those of their potential hosts. One host egg is removed and replaced by the cuckoo's. Channel-billed Cuckoos host on birds such as Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Collared Sparrowhawk. Also known to host on crows and ravens.

Nest

Type: Host Material: Depends on host Height above ground: Depends on host

Like all parasitic cuckoos, Channel-billed Cuckoos do not have their own nests, but lay their eggs into the nests of host birds.

Eggs

Size: 43 x 30 mm Colour: Light-brown, with brown speckles Shape: Long tapered oval

The colours and shape of the eggs roughly match those of potential hosts. However, the cuckoos' eggs are usually larger than the hosts' and their chicks stronger than the hosts'. The hosts' chicks are pushed out of the nest by the young cuckoo, if the hosts' eggs had not been destroyed by the cuckoo in the first place.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

One of the few diurnal bird species that we have found to also be active at night, especially near full moon.

Channel-billed Cuckoos are known to be fruit eaters and as such they are very adaptable. They liked the mulberries in our garden (see photo below) and also the fruit of Californian pepper trees, both of which are species introduced to Australia by white settlers. They are also fond of the fruit of the native fig tree.

In 2008 we had to defend our mulberries against Channel-billed Cuckoos ourselves; in 2010 a pair of Australian Magpies took up residency in one of our trees and did the job for us. Only when the Magpie chicks were big enough to follow their parents around, they did not chase the cuckoos any longer.

Food

Unlike most other cuckoos, Channel-billed Cuckoos are fruit eaters. But they are known to also take large insects and there are reports of them feeding on chicks and eggs of other bird species.

Channel-billed Cuckoo in our mulberry tree, obviously having a good time there...