Long-tailed Koel (Urodynamis taitensis)

Other Scientific Names
Urodynamys taitensis [Christidis and Boles (2008)]

Other Names (World)
Long-tailed Koel, Pacific Long-tailed Koel, Long-tailed Cuckoo, Sparrow Hawk, Home Owl, Screecher, Screamer, Koekoea, Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo

Family
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Size
39 - 46 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Sparrman, 1787)

Derivation
Eu-d�'-na-mys - Gk, eu, well, good; Gk, dynamis, power: taitensis - N.L., of Tahiti

Abundance (Guide)
V

Vagrant to Australia, mainly north and east.

Habitat
Forests, vegetated ridges in mountainous regions.

Range (Guide)

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands (NB), Micronesia [Federated States of] (NB), Nauru, New Zealand (B), Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States Minor Outlying Islands (NB), Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Vagrant to Australia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau.

Breeds in New Zealand, Great and Little Barrier, Kapiti, Stewart and Chatham Is, and also Kermadecs. Migrates to Oceania, occurring from Palau, Carolines and Marshalls through Fiji, Tonga and Samoa to Cook, Society, Austral, Marquesas and Pitcairn Is; also Bismarck Archipelago, Solomons, Vanuatu, Norfolk I, Lord Howe I and elsewhere in south-western Pacific.

Eastern and northern Australia, western Pacific islands. Southern birds winter in islands north of Australia.

Rarity Status
View Rarity Status Information

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Usually singly, in twos and occasionally in small groups.

Food
Large insects and small invertebrates including lizards, bird eggs, nestlings and some adults. Occasionally seeds and fruits.

Voice
Far-carrying, shrill, 'coo-ee' and rollicking notes are uttered by the male, sometimes at night. Piercing whistles uttered by female.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (12)...)

Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo (Urodynamis taitensis) [XC207336]
by Dan Lane from Gunn Lake Nature Trail, Fiordland National Park, Southland District, Southland, New Zealand (song)

Pacific Long-tailed Cuckoo (Urodynamis taitensis) [XC33330]
by Patrik \u00c5berg from Mapara Forest Reserve, New Zealand (call)

Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds in New Zealand (October - February).

Nest
None. Eggs laid in the nest of a host, including Yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala), Whitehead (Mohoua albicilla) and Brown Creepers.

Eggs (Guide)
1; creamy-white, spotted and blotched all over with purplish brown and grey, denser at the larger end; oval; 23 x 18 mm.

Young
Altricial, nidicolous.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Female and juvenile Eastern Koel (Eudynamys orientalis).

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

Files:

JPG files for Long-tailed Koel (Urodynamis taitensis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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