#chrysococcyx lucidus

[birdblues]

Shining Bronze Cuckoo

[birdstudies]

November 11, 2022 - Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) These cuckoos are found in parts of Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu in woodlands and scrub. They eat insects, especially hairy caterpillars, plucking them from trees, shrubs, and the ground and joining mixed-species flocks. Brood parasites, they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, including thornbills, fairy-wrens, and robins, leaving the host parents to care for the chicks.

[wormlizard]

[collectiveofanimals]

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx lucidus

Chrysococcyx translates into gold-cuckoo, while lucidus means shining.

Family: Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Fun Fact: “ Shining cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs singly in nests of grey warblers (mainland) and Chatham Island warblers. Eggs are laid mostly in November, after which the adult cuckoos take no further part in breeding. Young cuckoos are dependent on their foster-parents for several weeks after fledging.” (Source)

Habitat: They are endemic to rainforests of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Indonesia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. 

Ecosystem Role: “Predominantly invertebrates. Like most cuckoo species, shining cuckoos have the ability to eat toxic insects like hairy caterpillars and ladybirds that are avoided by many other birds.” (Source)

Conservation Status: Least Concern