fan tailed cuckoo cacomantis flabelliformis

Introduction

Discover two cuckoo species: the Long-tailed Koel, a migratory bird nesting in New Zealand and wintering in the Pacific islands, and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo, found across Australia, Fiji, and other Pacific locales, known for its unique traits and varied diet. Both species have been sighted in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, Lomaiviti, and Lau.

Fun Fact 1: Brood Parasitism

Some cuckoo species are known for their unique reproductive strategy called BROOD PARASITISM, where they lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species. The host birds then unknowingly raise the cuckoo chicks alongside their own, often at the expense of their own offspring. This behavior varies widely among cuckoo species and has fascinated scientists studying avian behavior and evolution.

Long Tailed KoelFan Tailed Cuckoo
Long Tailed KoelFan Tailed Cuckoo

Long Tailed Koel

Long Tailed Koel

Long Tailed Koel is a migratory bird that spends spring and summer in New Zealand, its only breeding place, and spends winter in the Pacific islands. It is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaving them to raise its chicks. Type: Migrant. Diet: Long-tailed cuckoo eat mostly insects. They also eat bird eggs and nestling birds, adult birds and lizards. They occasionally eat fruit and seeds. Recorded Sightings: Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau

Common Name: Long Tailed Koel
Scientific Name: Urodynamis taitensis
Image Supplied: Robertson, Zachary. (2021)

Fan Tailed Cuckoo

Fan Tailed Cuckoo

The fan-tailed cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis) is a medium-sized cuckoo found across Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It has a warm buff-colored chest and belly, distinguished by a bright yellow eyering and a heavily barred tail. Its diet in Australia includes insects, their larvae, fruits, vegetables, small reptiles, mammals, and especially bird chicks. This cuckoo perches in exposed positions to locate prey. Type: Breeder. Diet: A variety of insect and their larvae, fruits and vegetables, small reptiles, mammals and birds, especially bird chicks.

Common Name: Fan Tailed Cuckoo
Scientific Name: Cacomantis flabelliformis
Recorded Sightings: Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti
Image Supplied: Harrison, JJ. (2010)

NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage – Link

That’s all, folks! No extra info to dig into this time!

Just a quick note—no footnotes to add this time!

  • Ellura Sanctuary. 2012. Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis). [Image]. Available at: Link [Accessed 22 June 2024].
  • Fan-tailed cuckoo. (2022, August 25). In Wikipedia. Link
    IUCN (2016, October 1). Long-tailed Koel. IUCN Red List. Retrieved September 18, 2023, from Link
  • IUCN (2016, October 1). Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis. ICUN Red List. Retrieved September 18, 2023, from Link
  • Harrison, JJ. 2010. Fan-tailed Cuckoo. [Image]. Available at: Link [Accessed 2 June 2024].
  • [Hervé JACOB]. (2018, September 15). Long-tailed Koel Urodynamis taitensis [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
  • [Josep del Hoyo]. (2013, February 13). Long-tailed Koel Urodynamis taitensis [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link
  • Pacific long-tailed cuckoo. (2023, May 13). In Wikipedia. Link
  • Robertson, Zachary. 2021. Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo. [Image]. Available at: Link
  • [Stephen Wallace]. (2012, January 19). Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis [Video]. Macaulay Library.Link
  • [Tony Baylis]. (2011, March 23). Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link