Pallid Cuckoo
Heteroscenes pallidus
Large pale cuckoo, which lacks the warmer tones of both Fan-tailed and Brush cuckoos. Yellow eyering, and a dark indistinct stripe across the cheek. Has a distinctive call that has several notes, and tends to perch in prominent places or fence-posts while calling.
识别特征
Characteristics of the appearance of the pallid cuckoo include: a dark bill, a dark eye with a gold eye-ring, a shadowy dark mark from the eye down the neck, a white (or buff) mark on the nape, olive grey feet and prominent white (or buff) toothing along the tail. In flight, there are conspicuous white and dark bars across the long tail. Its silhouette resembles a falcon and often triggers alarm calls from passerines. The pallid cuckoo can have various morphs including light rufous morph or dark rufous morph. <p>In adult males the upperparts including head and neck are grey-brown and have large spots on wing-coverts. In adult females the light-rufous morph is similar to the adult male however with the dark rufous morph the hind neck patch extends onto mantle and it has barring on the chest.<p>A distinguishing feature of the family Cuculidae are the feet, which are zygodactyl, meaning that the two inner toes point forward and the two outer point backward.[citation needed]
分类信息
English ornithologist John Latham described the pallid cuckoo in 1801 as Columba pallida "pale pigeon".<p>Sources differ in the genera placement of this species. It is commonly placed in Cuculus, but genetic evidence and its song support its placement in Cacomantis, with its closest relative the white-crowned cuckoo (Cacomantis leucolophus).<p>"Pallid cuckoo" has been designated the official name by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). Other common names include unadorned cuckoo, semitone-bird, scale-bird, and brain-fever bird—from its monotonous repetitive call.
- 学名
- Heteroscenes pallidus
- 命名信息
- (Latham, 1801)
- 目
- Cuculiformes
- 科
- Cuculidae
- 属
- Heteroscenes
分布与栖息地
The pallid cuckoo is widely distributed throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania. It spends the winter months in central inland Australia and the Northern Territory. The cuckoo then migrates to South East Australia's coastal region and Tasmania, arriving generally around September or October, sometimes earlier. It has also been observed that migration occasionally occurs to the islands of Timor and Papua New Guinea in the winter months. It is a rare vagrant to New Zealand.<p>The pallid cuckoo has been observed in various different habitats such as in woodland, shrubland, mangrove forest, pastoral country, farmland, golf courses and gardens. However it prefers lightly timbered country with trees and shrubs and a sparse under-story where it can best hunt for prey.
- 繁殖区
- AU : Australia and Tasmania
- 非繁殖区
- to c, e Lesser Sundas
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- rising
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Striated Antthrush
Chamaeza nobilis
Chunky, brown-and-white bird of lowland rainforest. Brown above, white below with extensive brown streaking. The facial pattern is attractive with white eyebrows and a dark brown mustache. Forages on the ground of tall, mature rainforest. Very quiet during the dry season; it usually starts singing more frequently with the onset of the rainy season. Its song is a distinctive, long series of low hoots that accelerates from a pace of one note per second to ten notes per second over about eight seconds. May sometimes give a series of slow, rising hoots at the end of its song.
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Merops oreobates
Colorful, medium-sized bee-eater with rich rufous underparts. In flight, shows black patches at the back of the wings and sides of the tail. Found in forest, gardens, and lush woodland at middle and high elevations. Usually in small groups that perch high, often in conspicuous places. The calls include a simple “seep” and an agitated series of rising whistles. Similar to Little and Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, but much larger and more richly colored below. In flight, also shows much less rufous on the top of the wings and tail than those species.
Opal-rumped Tanager
Tangara velia
Common tanager, found in a variety of forest habitats. Usually seen from below, in which case it is best identified by uniform dark underparts with rufous lower belly and undertail coverts, and active behavior. The shining white rump can be seen from most angles on perched birds, even when high overhead. Found in tall rainforest, shorter-stature forests on sandy soils, and in disturbed areas. Groups move rapidly through treetops, usually with other species of small tanagers, feeding on fruit. Calls are indistinct chips, often given in rapid series in flight.
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