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During courtship a call of pee-o-wit may be also heard.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyCuckoos
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatGrassland, Herbaceous Graminoids Sparse Hummock Grasses, Open woodland, Sparse woodland, and Woody Trees Scattered
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Graham Possingham
Range map
Range map
2490visible hotspots
10252visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
What distinguishes it from other small sized cuckoo species in Australia is that it doesn't have a metallic coloured feathers on its back.
Behavior
They are usually observed by themselves or in a pair as they don't raise their own young, rather they leave eggs in another species nest to be raised by host. Chicks will give a chirp, while in adults a descending feeeuw or pee-o-weer call in a lower mournful tone than the Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, which may be a singular or repeated.
Gallery