Species · GBIF taxon 2496204
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Scythrops novaehollandiaeAlso known as Stormbird, Storm-bird, Channel-bill, Hornbill Cuckoo
Channel-billed Cuckoos are spectacular, prehistoric-looking giants that arrive in northern and eastern Australia each spring to breed. They announce their presence with incredibly loud, piercing shrieks, often earning them the local nickname of stormbirds. As the world's largest brood parasites, they lay their eggs in the nests of crows, magpies, and currawongs, which are then forced to raise the gargantuan chicks.
MigratoryLoudParasitic
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- diet
- Mainly figs and other native fruits, supplemented by insects, nestlings, and small reptiles.
- family
- Cuculidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, decline of host species, and collisions with windows or vehicles during migration.
- life Span
- Typically 10 to 15 years in the wild.
LC
Possesses a massive, powerful bill; observe from a distance and do not attempt to handle.
The massive, curved bill is incredibly strong and can inflict a painful bite if the bird is cornered or injured.
Never attempt to rescue or handle an injured adult without thick gloves and professional wildlife training.- Listen for calls: Their loud, raucous, screeching calls are often heard before rain or at night during the breeding season.
- Scan canopy tops: Look for their massive, toucan-like silhouettes perched high in fruiting fig trees.
- Watch host birds: Aggressive mobbing behavior by crows or currawongs often reveals a hidden cuckoo nearby.