The pheasant coucal (Centropus phasianinus) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Australia, Timor and New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests[clarification needed]. It has adapted well to canefields in northern Australia.[2] The pheasant coucal is unusual among Australian cuckoos in that it incubates and raises its own young instead of laying its eggs in the nest of another species.
The ornithologist John Latham described the pheasant coucal as Cuculus phasianinus in 1801, based on a drawing by Thomas Watling.[3] Six subspecies are recognised, two of which are found in Australia with an abrupt demarcation between them occurring around the Burdekin River in Central Queensland. South is the nominate subspecies phasianinus, while north is the subspecies melanurus, which is larger in size and has darker and more prominent black bands on its rectrices. The little known subspecies mui is found in eastern Timor, and has distinctive white plumage of its upperparts, head and breast. The remaining three subspecies are found in New Guinea, and all have darker plumage than other forms. Subspecies thierfelderi is found in the Trans-fly region in the south of the island and is intermediate between melanurus and nigricans. Subspecies nigricans occurs in the eastern coastal regions of New Guinea and the D'Entrecasteaux Islands. Propinquus is a smaller subspecies from northern New Guinea.[4]
The Kai coucal (C. spilopterus) of the Kai Islands in Indonesia was formerly considered conspecific, but was split as a distinct species by the IOC in 2021.[5]
Descriptionedit
50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) in length, the pheasant coucal is a large heavy-set bird adapted for living on the ground, reminiscent of a pheasant in shape. Birds in breeding plumage have black heads, necks, breasts and bellies, barred chestnut wings and long black, brown and cream barred tails. Outside the breeding season, their black head and underparts moult to a white-streaked chestnut colour.[6]
The pheasant coucal's summer voice is a low descending 'boop boop boop'. Its winter voice is a sharp hissing.[7]
Distribution and habitatedit
In Cape York, Queensland
It is found in eastern and northern Australia, from the New South Wales south coast north to Cape York, and across the top of Australia to the Pilbara, as well as eastern Timor and lowland New Guinea.[4] The preferred habitat has dense understory as a component, typically shrubby understory in forest, or tall grasses in grassland or swampy areas, as well as sugar cane in cane plantations and patches of weedy vegetation such as blackberry or lantana.[6]
Feedingedit
Predominantly carnivorous, the pheasant coucal eats small reptiles and amphibians, bird eggs and young, small mammals and large insects.[6]
They are opportunistic predators, and have been known to attack birds caught in mist nets.[8]
Breedingedit
The nest is an untidy bowl-shaped structure made of grasses and leaves. It is located in tall grass or bushes, and the stems overhead are often tied together to make a canopy. Two to six white oval eggs measuring 38 by 29 mm are laid.[9] The incubation period is 15 days, with young remaining in the nest for another 13 days.[6] The male pheasant coucal does most of the incubating of eggs and feeding of young, as well as building the nest.[10]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Centropus phasianinus.
Wikispecies has information related to Centropus phasianinus.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Centropus phasianinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684209A93018702. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684209A93018702.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (12 December 2008). "Subspecies Centropus (Polophilus) phasianinus phasianinus (Latham, 1801)". Australian Government. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^ abMason, I. J.; McKean, J. L.; Dudzinski, M. L. (1984). "Geographical variation in the Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus (Latham) and a description of a new subspecies from Timor". Emu. 84: 1–15. doi:10.1071/MU9840001.
^"Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-06-13.
^ abcd"Pheasant Coucal". Australian Museum - Birds in Backyards. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
^Beruldsen, Gordon (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. p. 260. ISBN0-646-42798-9.
^Maurer, Golo (2008). "Who Cares? Males Provide Most Parental Care in a Monogamous Nesting Cuckoo". Ethology. 114 (6): 540–547. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01498.x.
April 27, 2024
pheasant, coucal, pheasant, coucal, centropus, phasianinus, species, cuckoo, family, cuculidae, found, australia, timor, guinea, natural, habitats, subtropical, tropical, moist, lowland, forests, subtropical, tropical, mangrove, forests, clarification, needed,. The pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae It is found in Australia Timor and New Guinea Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests clarification needed It has adapted well to canefields in northern Australia 2 The pheasant coucal is unusual among Australian cuckoos in that it incubates and raises its own young instead of laying its eggs in the nest of another species Pheasant coucal In Queensland Australia Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Cuculiformes Family Cuculidae Genus Centropus Species C phasianinus Binomial name Centropus phasianinus Latham 1801 Synonyms Cuculus phasianinus Latham Polophilus variegatus Leach Polophilus gigas Stephens Corydonyx giganteus Vieillot Centropus speciosus Brookes Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Feeding 5 Breeding 6 ReferencesTaxonomy editThe ornithologist John Latham described the pheasant coucal as Cuculus phasianinus in 1801 based on a drawing by Thomas Watling 3 Six subspecies are recognised two of which are found in Australia with an abrupt demarcation between them occurring around the Burdekin River in Central Queensland South is the nominate subspecies phasianinus while north is the subspecies melanurus which is larger in size and has darker and more prominent black bands on its rectrices The little known subspecies mui is found in eastern Timor and has distinctive white plumage of its upperparts head and breast The remaining three subspecies are found in New Guinea and all have darker plumage than other forms Subspecies thierfelderi is found in the Trans fly region in the south of the island and is intermediate between melanurus and nigricans Subspecies nigricans occurs in the eastern coastal regions of New Guinea and the D Entrecasteaux Islands Propinquus is a smaller subspecies from northern New Guinea 4 The Kai coucal C spilopterus of the Kai Islands in Indonesia was formerly considered conspecific but was split as a distinct species by the IOC in 2021 5 Description edit50 to 70 cm 20 to 28 in in length the pheasant coucal is a large heavy set bird adapted for living on the ground reminiscent of a pheasant in shape Birds in breeding plumage have black heads necks breasts and bellies barred chestnut wings and long black brown and cream barred tails Outside the breeding season their black head and underparts moult to a white streaked chestnut colour 6 The pheasant coucal s summer voice is a low descending boop boop boop Its winter voice is a sharp hissing 7 Distribution and habitat edit nbsp In Cape York Queensland It is found in eastern and northern Australia from the New South Wales south coast north to Cape York and across the top of Australia to the Pilbara as well as eastern Timor and lowland New Guinea 4 The preferred habitat has dense understory as a component typically shrubby understory in forest or tall grasses in grassland or swampy areas as well as sugar cane in cane plantations and patches of weedy vegetation such as blackberry or lantana 6 Feeding editPredominantly carnivorous the pheasant coucal eats small reptiles and amphibians bird eggs and young small mammals and large insects 6 They are opportunistic predators and have been known to attack birds caught in mist nets 8 Breeding editThe nest is an untidy bowl shaped structure made of grasses and leaves It is located in tall grass or bushes and the stems overhead are often tied together to make a canopy Two to six white oval eggs measuring 38 by 29 mm are laid 9 The incubation period is 15 days with young remaining in the nest for another 13 days 6 The male pheasant coucal does most of the incubating of eggs and feeding of young as well as building the nest 10 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Centropus phasianinus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Centropus phasianinus BirdLife International 2016 Centropus phasianinus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22684209A93018702 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22684209A93018702 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 Blakers et al 1984 The Atlas of Australian Birds Carlton Melbourne University Press ISBN 0 522 84285 2 Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts 12 December 2008 Subspecies Centropus Polophilus phasianinus phasianinus Latham 1801 Australian Government Retrieved 13 July 2012 a b Mason I J McKean J L Dudzinski M L 1984 Geographical variation in the Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus Latham and a description of a new subspecies from Timor Emu 84 1 15 doi 10 1071 MU9840001 Species Updates IOC World Bird List Retrieved 2021 06 13 a b c d Pheasant Coucal Australian Museum Birds in Backyards Retrieved 12 July 2012 Simpson amp Day 1999 Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Ringwood Penguin Books Australia ISBN 0 670 87918 5 http safring adu org za papers afring 43 16 pdf Beruldsen Gordon 2003 Australian Birds Their Nests and Eggs Kenmore Hills Qld self p 260 ISBN 0 646 42798 9 Maurer Golo 2008 Who Cares Males Provide Most Parental Care in a Monogamous Nesting Cuckoo Ethology 114 6 540 547 doi 10 1111 j 1439 0310 2008 01498 x Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pheasant coucal amp oldid 1190987381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
