Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis)

Other Scientific Names
Chalcites basalis [Christidis and Boles (2008)]

Other Names (World)
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Horsfield Bronze-Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Bronze-Cuckoo, Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo, Rainbird, Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo

Family
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Size
15 - 17 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Horsfield, 1821)

Derivation
Chr�'-so-cocc'-yx - Gk, chrysos, golden; Gk, coccyx, cuckoo: bas-ä'-lis - N.L., basis, base, pedistal, basal, of the base.

Abundance (Guide)
C

Common. Migrant to the south.

Habitat
Woodlands, mallee, mulga, saltbush, saltmarsh, mangroves, roadsides, golfcourses.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B), Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea.

Vagrant to Brunei Darussalam, Christmas Island, Singapore.

Image of Range of Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Throughout Australia, including Tasmania.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
Secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Singly, in pairs and very occasionally in loose flocks.

Food
Insects and their larvae, particularly hairy caterpillars. Occasionally plant material.

Voice
A sharp, piercing, descending whistle, 'tsieeew, tsieeew, tsieeew'. Also a quick, cheery chirrup like that of a budgerigar.

Listen to call of Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

(34Kb) © ? (2)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (59)...)

Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis) [XC336258]
by Marc Anderson from Tibooburra, New South Wales, Australia (song)

Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis) [XC689102]
by Marc Anderson from Paroo Darling National Park, New South Wales, Australia (song)

Breeding Season (Guide)
July - January.

Nest
None. Egg(s) laid in that of the foster parents. The most common species build domed nests near the ground. More than 65 species have been identified.

Eggs (Guide)
1; pale pink with small red dots; oval; about 18 x 12 mm. Incubation is carried out by the species whose nest has been parasitised (12 - 13 days).

Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 15 - 19 days.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus) which lacks the prominent white eyebrow and has more heavily barred underparts, the bars being complete from side to side.

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References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

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