Pheasant Coucal

1. Breeding adults have striking black head and underparts with reddish-brown wings and back, while non-breeding adults are streaked rusty-brown all over

2. Long, black tail often held at a downward angle when perched

3. Distinctive deep, hollow "oop-oop-oop-oop" call that resonates across their habitat

Unlike most cuckoos, Pheasant Coucals build their own nests and raise their younga grass dome hidden in thick vegetation. They breed from September to March, with males taking on most incubation and feeding duties. They form lasting pairs, and may raise several broods in a single season. Their diet includes large insects, frogs, and occasionally small mammals, which they hunt by stalking through dense vegetation.

Look for Pheasant Coucals in dense grassy areas, particularly along the edges of wetlands and in thick undergrowth throughout northern and eastern Australia. They're active throughout the day but are most vocal at dawn and dusk. Focus your search on ground level as they prefer to run rather than fly. Sugar cane fields, roadside grass, and weedy thickets are favourite haunts. Listen for their distinctive call firstit often leads you to spotting them as they move through grass or perch low in a bush.