Audio / Video
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click photos for clips.
Long Tailed Cuckoo
Koekeoa
Eudynamys taitensis
Heard far more often than seen, the long tailed cuckoo is a
bird I've heard on Ulva but not seen there.
It is quite secretive and as it is often mobbed by other smaller birds (victims ??) that is probably understandable.
Brown Creeper, Yellowhead and Grey Warblers are favoured hosts. These species will generally have an early undisturbed nesting, with Cuckoos arriving in time from their inward migration to target these much smaller surrogate parents second nesting.
I have read that the juvenile cuckoo can perfectly mimic the Grey Warbler chicks begging call.
We used to always have one living around our garden over the summer, but the last few years have heard the call only occasionally.
Size 400 mm
It is quite secretive and as it is often mobbed by other smaller birds (victims ??) that is probably understandable.
Brown Creeper, Yellowhead and Grey Warblers are favoured hosts. These species will generally have an early undisturbed nesting, with Cuckoos arriving in time from their inward migration to target these much smaller surrogate parents second nesting.
I have read that the juvenile cuckoo can perfectly mimic the Grey Warbler chicks begging call.
We used to always have one living around our garden over the summer, but the last few years have heard the call only occasionally.
Size 400 mm
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Longtailed Cuckoo This cuckoo was recorded in our garden, which may explain the buzzing fly. |
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Longtailed Cuckoo |
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Longtailed Cuckoo As yet I have no video to show. |
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