Bird Guide

Channel-billed Cuckoo vs Pheasant Coucal

Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Scythrops novaehollandiae

Large684 gForest

The world's largest cuckoo, the channel-billed cuckoo measures between 56–70 cm (22–28 in) long, with a 88–107 cm (35–42 in) wingspan, and weighing between 560–935 g (1.235–2.061 lb). 24 adults were found to have averaged 684 g (1.508 lb) in body mass. According to a manual on avian body masses, another species of cuckoo, the buff-headed coucal, may have a mean body mass some 11% higher than the channel-billed cuckoo. The bill is bi-coloured, with a grey base becoming straw-coloured at the tip.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Channel-billed Cuckoo
Recorded by James Ray · Call, flight call, song · Faulconbridge, Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bilby · CC BY 3.0
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)

Pheasant Coucal

Centropus phasianinus

Large382 gShrubland

50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) in length, the pheasant coucal is a large heavy-set bird adapted for living on the ground, reminiscent of a pheasant in shape. Birds in breeding plumage have black heads, necks, breasts and bellies, barred chestnut wings and long black, brown and cream barred tails. Outside the breeding season, their black head and underparts moult to a white-streaked chestnut colour. The pheasant coucal's summer voice is a low descending 'boop boop boop'. Its winter voice is a sharp hissing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: James Niland from Brisbane, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Channel-billed Cuckoo and Pheasant Coucal.