Distribution Map
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Scythrops novaehollandiae
NativeStatus
CommonRarity
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Species Description
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is the largest cuckoo in the world and a seasonal migrant to northern and eastern Australia. With a wingspan exceeding one meter, it is instantly recognizable by its massive pale bill and ghostly grey plumage. Known as the "Stormbird," its loud, raucous calls herald its arrival each spring, coinciding with the breeding season of its host species.
Fun Facts
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is the largest brood parasite globally.
1. Enormous pale downward-curved bill, unique among Australian birds.
2. Crucifix-shaped silhouette in flight due to long tail and pointed wings.
3. Loud "kawk" calls, frequently heard during early morning or at night.
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is a brood parasite, laying eggs in the nests of large birds such as Australian Magpies, Pied Currawongs, and crows. Unlike some cuckoo species, their chicks do not eject host eggs but outcompete nest-mates by growing faster and demanding more food. Adults migrate to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia after the breeding season ends in March or April. Their diet primarily consists of figs and other fruits, though they occasionally eat insects or small animals.
Channel-billed Cuckoos inhabit tall open forests and woodlands, especially areas with fig trees. They are most active from August to March in northern and eastern Australia. Increasingly adapted to urban environments, they can be spotted in city parks or leafy suburbs with mature trees. Their calls often attract attention from other birds like ravens or currawongs that mob them due to their parasitic nesting habits.
Physical Attributes
Height
62 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds94%
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