Black-eared Cuckoo
NameBlack-eared Cuckoo
Common NameBlack-eared Cuckoo
Scientific NameChrysococcyx osculans
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)29
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)30
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are plain grey-brown, contrasting with pale buffy-white underparts. A prominent blackish patch extends from the lores around the eye to the ear coverts. The tail is dark with white tips on the outer feathers. The bill is short, slender, and black.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, mournful, descending whistle, often rendered as 'pee-ooh' or 'pee-ooo-wee', repeated several times.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, wetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to Australia, found across much of the continent, particularly in the interior and south-east, with northern migrations during the austral winter.
Identifying Featuresblack patch around eye, plain grey-brown upperparts, pale underparts, short decurved black bill, mournful descending whistle call
Description
A small, slender cuckoo characterized by its plain grey-brown upperparts and a distinctive black patch around the eye. It is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species, and is often found in open woodlands and scrub.
