Cacomantis flabelliformis

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Family

Cuculidae

 

Genus

Cacomantis

Species

flabelliformis

Common Names

Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Ash-tailed Cuckoo

Distinguishing Features

This species is medium sized at 25-27cm and has a slender appearance. Its most distinct feature is its bright yellow eye-ring. It has a grey head and back and grey wing feathers. Its unusually long tail has a white tip and thick white stripes throughout. Male underparts are creamy cinnamon colour, while females are whiter. The young are coloured very differently, with mottled brown plumage.

Survey Techniques

Call and visual identification.

Species Call

A descending, slightly mournful musical rattle or a vibrating 'pheeweer'.

Similar Species

The Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus) is similar in shape and size but it lacks the yellow eye-ring and has more brown colourings.

Distribution

The Fan-tailed Cuckoo is found from the northern tip of QLD right around the eastern states and across the south of Australia to WA, including TAS. The species also occurs in New Caledonia, New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand and several islands in between.

Country of Origin

Australia

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

Numbers have decline significantly since 1981 (COG). This species is considered rare and sensitive (Freudenberger).

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999.

LSCCES Population

Three sightings were made at the ANBG.

Associated vegetation community

This species is mostly found in open forest and woodland and will also inhabit wet eucalypt forest.

Limiting Resources

This species depends upon other birds to care for their egg and their young, especially thornbills. The declining population of thornbills in the area may therefore have a direct impact on cuckoo population numbers. Both species require a woodland environment free from predators such as Cats (Felis catus) and Dogs (Canis familiaris).

 

Breeding

These Cuckoos will use the domed nests of other small birds, including the nests of Brown Thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla ), Yellow-rumped Thornbills (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa ), Buff-rumped Thornbills (Acanthiza reguloides ), Crested Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) and White-browed Scrubwrens (Sericornis frontalis ). The birds lay their one egg and remove one of the host's eggs. Their one egg is cream with black spots, requiring 14-15 days incubation. It usually hatches earlier than the other eggs and the host parents bring the chick up as one of their own.

Behaviour

This species is especially vocal during spring, with a distinct staccato call. To feed, it finds a good perch and then swoops down to collect an insect before returning to its perch to eat.

Functional Group

Insectivore

Food Species

This species will eat hairy caterpillars and other insects and their larvae.

Predators

Cats (Felis catus) and Dogs (Canis familiaris) may predate this species around suburban reserves.

Interesting Fact

The egg of the cuckoo usually hatches eariler than the other eggs in the nest, giving the chick the oppurtunity to remove the eggs of its new 'foster' parents.