Generally uncommon, but may be locally common. Migrates into south-eastern and south-western areas for the summer, only rarely reaching Tasmania. Present accross northern Australia throughout the year but probably some migration to New Guinea.
Habits
Mostly solitary, but occasionaly in twos or small groups.
Food
Insects, procurred on or near the ground.
Voice
Usually quiet. A descending, 'feeeuw', singly or repeated. Also a loud, 'fee-ew-it, fee-ew-it' or 'fee-ew-eer'. Ocassionally an abrupt, quieter, 'feeit'.
Black-eared Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans) [XC859757]
by id from Tooborac State Forest, Victoria, Australia (call)
Black-eared Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans) [XC334246]
by Marc Anderson from Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Australia (song)
Breeding Season (Guide)
August - January in the south, March - July inland.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Nest
None. Egg(s) laid in that of the foster parents. The most common species being Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus) and Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus).
Eggs (Guide)
1; dark chocolate, but readily rubbed off; log-oval; about 22 x 14 mm. Incubation is carried out by the species whose nest has been parasitised.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 18 days.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Adult with juvenile Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis) which, depending on the stage of development, has varying degrees of barring on the breast and belly.
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