Fauna
Bird

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Scythrops novaehollandiae

Also 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
Channel-billed Cuckoo reference
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFigs, Insects, Bird eggs
Predators
  • Large birds of prey
  • Pythons
  • Feral cats
ThreatsHabitat loss, decline of host species, and collisions with windows or vehicles during migration.
HabitatsEucalypt forests, woodlands, rainforest margins, and urban areas with fruiting trees.
Life spanTypically 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Classification
  1. FamilyCuculidae
  2. SpeciesScythrops novaehollandiae
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Possesses a massive, powerful bill; observe from a distance and do not attempt to handle.
Why it is dangerous
The massive, curved bill is incredibly strong and can inflict a painful bite if the bird is cornered or injured.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by its enormous size, grey plumage, red eye-ring, and disproportionately large, toucan-like bill.
What to do
Never attempt to rescue or handle an injured adult without thick gloves and professional wildlife training.
Responsible observation
  • 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.
Related species
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