13 |
Fan-tailed CuckooAlternative names: "Ash-coloured Cuckoo", "Stormbird*" |
Sightings
A Fan-tailed Cuckoo was first spotted by us south of Maules Creek, New South Wales, in October 2006. Further sightings followed on the western fringes of Mt. Kaputar National Park, 30 km east of Narrabri. First spotted there in April 2008, then again in early August 2008 (i.e. in wintertime).
While the above sightings occurred in bushland, near creekbeds, the vegetation was very sparse 20 km east of Narrabri, where we saw a Fan-tailed Cuckoo in February 2009.
Also spotted by us in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009. Special access to the wetlands kindly granted by the owners of Capricorn Resort is most gratefully acknowledged.
A Fan-tailed Cuckoo's call for a mate can carry over more than half a kilometre.
Photos
Male Fan-tailed Cuckoo in shady undergrowth; note the rich rufous colour, which makes is very similar to a Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, while Brush Cuckoos are much paler (click on image for larger version)
Note how much paler the colouring of this bird is compared to the one above (click on image for larger version)
Different view of the same bird as above (click on image for larger version)
Male Fan-tailed Cuckoo with the sunlight falling in from behind; this individual is very brownish-orange again (click on image for larger version)
Female Fan-tailed Cuckoo; apart from the difference in sunlight, which makes it appear paler than the male shown above, it is still clear that its colours are much paler than the male's (click on image for larger version)
Slightly different view of the same female Fan-tailed Cuckoo as above (click on image for larger version)