Little Bronze-Cuckoo

1. Bright red eye-ring in males; pale greenish-white eye-ring in females.

2. Bold dark barring across the white underbody, including the throat.

3. A rapid series of 4-5 descending whistles ("tew-tew-tew-teew") serves as its signature call.

This species is a brood parasite, laying its eggs primarily in the nests of gerygones, such as the Large-billed Gerygone. The cuckoo chick hatches first and ejects the host's eggs or nestlings, leaving the foster parents to raise it exclusively. In northeast Queensland, some populations migrate south during winter, while others remain year-round residents.

The Little Bronze-Cuckoo feeds mainly on insects like caterpillars, beetles, and bugs. It forages quietly in dense foliage and occasionally catches prey mid-flight.

The Little Bronze-Cuckoo inhabits northern Australia's mangroves, monsoon forests, and rainforest edges, ranging from the Kimberley region to northeast New South Wales. Dawn is an ideal time to spot them, as males often call from exposed perches. These solitary birds are typically found in the upper canopy and are rarely seen on the ground. Their distinctive whistle calls are often the first clue to their presence.