Long-billed Cuckoo
Chalcites megarhynchus
A little-known cuckoo from lowland rainforest. Slender with long, thin bill that droops at tip. Males have dark cap, and red eye and eye-ring. Females have grey head and dark bill. Perches upright and motionless in sub-canopy. Voice a whistled, 2-note call with short first note, followed by loud descending note, “pu piiuuu!”. Similar to Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, but Long-billed Cuckoo is much less active with barring on the undertail. From Dwarf Koel by lack of white face mark and longer, thinner bill
Identification
The long-billed cuckoo (Chalcites megarhynchus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. Found in the Aru Islands and New Guinea, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This species was formerly placed in the genus Chrysococcyx.
Taxonomy
Genus: Chalcites; Family: Cuculidae; Order: Cuculiformes.
- Scientific name
- Chalcites megarhynchus
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1858)
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Chalcites
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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Fan-tailed Warbler
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Attractive, rather large warbler with long, expressive, white-tipped tail. Occurs in tropical forest of foothills and lowlands, mainly in winter, especially in areas with open understory and boulders. Forages mainly on or near the ground, flipping its tail loosely from side to side; regularly attends army ant swarms. Sexes look alike, with white face spots, blue-gray upperparts, and rich orange-yellow breast.
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