Cuckoo-ish bird

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booshkie
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Cuckoo-ish bird

I'm hoping someone here can confirm my tentative ID on this bird.

I was first alerted by a loud single note that reminded me of a raptor cry. When I found the source I was astonished that so much volume could come from a relatively small bird. It was high in the treetops (dry schlerophyll forest, Central Tablelands, NSW).

At the time I guessed fan-tailed cuckoo which seemed to fit the description in my mum's bird book but looking at Simpson and Day now I'm not so sure.

Any theories?

ed
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A big call from those photos, could be a fan tail, could also be a brush.
Ed

Ed Townsville NQ

booshkie
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Well, I did say it was a tentative ID.

I wouldn't have been surprised if someone came back and said it wasn't a cuckoo at all.

My field guide says nothing about the fanning out of the tail. And a quick google didn't turn up any helpful images of fanned-out tails for comparison.

---booshkie---

booshkie
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Thanks Denis, very helpful indeed.

---booshkie---

Honeyman
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I was looking to identify a bird in my backyard.
It is very similar to this, and I have a much better photo.
What really puzzled me though was that it is eating berries. I thought the cuckoo family were insectivores mainly.
Can't see what to do to show you the photo.

Honeyman
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Here, put this in your browser bar, and you will see a picture of the cuckoo.
http://www.webgooroo.com.au/images/coucal-sm.jpg

ed
ed's picture

Hi Honeyman (that seems wrong!!)

That's a Koel, light form, young female I'd say.

Ed Townsville NQ

Honeyman
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Thanks for that Ed, now I Googled Koel and I understand.
I live in Fitzgibbon, Brisbane, next to a section of Cabbagetree Creek which has not yet been denuded by the city council of shelter for wildlife.
Another part of the creek where I was walking one recent morning stunk of weedkiller, all vegetation dead. No wildlife there.
I used to be a commercial beekeeper, hence the "Honeyman".

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