Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Scientific Name: Eopsaltria australis

Description: The Fan-tailed Cuckoo has a generally dark slate-grey back and wings with white notches on a dark grey tail. The throat and upper breast are a cinnamon colour and there is a distinctive yellow eye ring and a small white patch on the shoulders. Young birds are duller with subtle brown barring on the breast and brown edges on feathers.

Some Fan-tailed Cuckoos may over-winter in the Geelong region. However, the majority spend the winter in northern Australia and return in early spring. Females lay their eggs in nests made by other birds, such as thornbills, honeyeaters or fairy-wrens. They feed mainly on insects and their larvae, especially hairy caterpillars.

Type: Bird
Where to find: forests and woodlands.
Size: 27cm