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Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

(Chrysococcyx basalis)
Alternative name: "Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo"
Size: 14-17 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos migrate to Australia from the north. In contrast with other species, they not only hop islands across the Torres Strait, but can make landfall anywhere along the north coast of Australia, from about Broome, WA, to Cape Melville, QLD. They populate almost the entire Australian continent. During their breeding season they are found mostly in the eastern half (except the far north), Tasmania, and the south-western corner of the continent. At other times they can disperse across the rest of the continent, including many offshore islands. Only in the most arid parts of the mainland (mostly the western half of WA, south of the Kimberleys) they are found only rarely.

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos can usually be found in open woodland, e.g. also paddocks with residual tree growth.

Sightings

We have had a few sightings of Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos, first at the farm where we lived until 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, in 2004. In October 2005 there was another one.

Starting in September 2007, a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo declared the trees around our house 20 km east of Narrabri its home for the breeding season. After their summer migration, a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo returned to our area in early October 2008. A bird was also seen a bit further to the east, in the foothills of the Nandewar Range, 30 km east of Narrabri. Seen again in the 2009/10 breeding season. A pair of birds was heard and seen in January 2011, but did not stay. A single bird was next spotted at the same location in October 2011.

Photos

Frontal view of a male Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Near-lateral view of a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Lateral view of the same bird as shown above

Dorsal view of the same bird as shown above

When a female arrived, the male (left) got all excited

He pulled all the stops to impress her

Frontal view of a female Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Lateral view of a female Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

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.

Together with other birds marking the boundaries of their territory by calling from vantage points, we noticed that the local Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos were quiet for two days during a late cold snap in late October 2008.

Food

Like most other cuckoos, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos are insect hunters. They take their prey from the ground.