Named after John Horsfield, this cuckoo is one of the most widespread brood parasites in Australia.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyCuckoos
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatOccurs in Indonesia and across much of Australia (including arid inland areas).
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from September to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by lrathbone
Range map
Range map
9495visible hotspots
97806visible records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
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
Young birds can be almost unbarred and may appear similar to the grayer Black-eared Cuckoo. Occurs in Indonesia and across much of Australia (including arid inland areas).
Behavior
Often perches prominently on top of a shrub or tree, and calls repeatedly with a loud piercing descending whistle.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
New South Wales
South Australia
Queensland
Victoria
Northern Territory
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory