Little Bronze Cuckoo
Chalcites minutillus ‡
Kings Range, Gordonvale, FN Qld IMG_4389 20180210 - barnardi male: green cap, red orbital ring, minimal rufous undertail. Winter migrant from SE Aust. ,
Notes: Small. Broad orbital ring — red in male, creamy
green in female. Two broad undertail bars.
Nominate minutillus
(Little Bronze Cuckoo) cap darker green than glossy upperparts.
Ssp
russatus (Gould's Bronze Cuckoo) bronze-green w. rufescent tail;
rufous undertail; broad
rufous edges to flight feathers. Ssp barnardi
as minutillus but less glossy, larger; female duller w.
deep yellow
orbital ring — migrates to Cape York for winter. In canopy of dense vegetation.
Range from Morcombe©
East Trinity, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_7083 20190915 - barnardi male: green cap, red orbital ring, minimal rufous undertail.Winter migrant from SE Aust. CLICK for one at Cuckoo Field, Cairns North, FNE Qld 20231223.
Kingfisher Park, Julatten, FN Qld IMG_2453 20151031 - barnardi female: pale orbital ring, minimal rufous undertail.CLICK for a male at Mackey Creek, Gordonvale, FNE Qld 20250810.
Lake Tinaroo, FNE Qld IMG_8953 20180318 - mostly russatus female: pale orbital ring, some of light rufous gorget,broad rufous edges to flight feathers.
Endeavour Falls, NW of Cooktown, CYP, FNE Qld IMG_5600 20160925 - russatus male: red orbital ring, light rufous gorget,broad rufous edges to flight feathers. CLICK pic to see another view IMG_5603.JPG.
Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_9930 20180329 - russatus male
Fogg Dam Conservation Park, N NT IMG_4065 20180729 - minutillus male: red orbital ring, underside barring complete.
Hardies Lagoon, Marrakai, N NT IMG_3898 20180729 - minutillus juvenile male: underside barring developing.
Foreshore, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_4286-4287 20210304