Pheasant Coucal

Centropus phasianinus

Julatten, FN Qld IMG_8463 20190403 - melanurus non-breeding: brown body. CLICK for close-up.

Notes: Large, primarily ground-based. Female larger than male. Nominate ssp phasianinus
streaked rusty brown in nonbreeding plumage. In breeding plumage head & front are black;
iris red. Ssp melanurus larger; darker, more prominent black bands on its rectrices. The only
cuckoo in Aust. that nests & raises its own young. Laboured flight, but more typically seen
clumsily crashing into dense vegetation.

Range from Morcombe^©(modified)

Walker Bay Rainforest Road, Cooktown, FNE Qld IMG_8662 20201017 - melanurus breeding. CLICK for non-breeding
plumage, 20180317 Lockhard River, Cape York, NF Qld IMG_2795 20191216 - melanurus breeding Wrights Creek, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_6254 20220130 - melanurus non-breeding. Gunlom, Kakadu NP, NE NT IMG_2295 20180722 - melanurus non-breeding Walker Bay Rainforest Road, Cooktown, FNE Qld IMG_0706 20180317 - melanurus non-breeding/ CLICK for another view. Cungulla (S of Townsville), CE Qld IMG_1743 20151027 - phasianinus breeding de Moleyns Lagoon, Mirani, NE Qld IMG_0740+0751 20220304 - phasianinus breeding Morris Road, Giru, NE Qld IMG_1489 20200807 - phasianinus non-breeding Lockhard River, Cape York, FN Qld IMG_2786 20191216 - melanurus breeding

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