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Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) Alternate name(s): "Coucal", "Swamp Pheasant", "Cane Pheasant" Aboriginal name(s): "bun-bun" [western bundjalung]; "bunbunbu" [ngadjon] Size: 50-75 cm (incl. tail, 35-43 cm); wing span: ca. 74 cm Body mass: 245-380 g (male), 330-585 g (female) Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.45-0.65

Australia: Family Group 13 Family Group 13 Table Oriental Cuckoo Pallid Cuckoo Brush Cuckoo Black-eared Cuckoo Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Horsefield's Bronze-Cuckoo Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Little Bronze-Cuckoo Australian Koel Channel-billed Cuckoo Pheasant Coucal Rufous Owl Powerful Owl Barking Owl Australian Boobook Eastern Barn Owl Eastern Grass Owl Australian Masked Owl Greater Sooty Owl Lesser Sooty Owl Marbled Frogmouth Tawny Frogmouth Papuan Frogmouth White-throated Nightjar Spotted Nightjar Large-tailed Nightjar Australian Owlet-nightjar Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Thumbnails page Birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Pheasant Coucals are large cuckoos, with extremely long tails. Their plumage changes between breeding and non-breeding season. During the breeding season the head and front are matted black. The fan-shaped, enormous tail is black with some faint grey markings. The wings are brown-grey-black barred with thin white streaks. The eyes are bright red during the breeding season. In eclipse the head and tail turn rufous-brown, with white streaks. The irises will then also become paler. The bill, legs and feet are dark-grey. Juvenile Pheasant Coucals have a darker head than non-breeding adults with buff specks. They also have bluish-grey irises.

Taxonomy, classification See Pheasant Coucal at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Pheasant Coucal is available HERE . Apart from Australia, Pheasant Coucals are found in West Papua (Indonesia), Timor Leste and New Guinea. There are at least three races of Pheasant Coucals in Australia. Together, they inhabit large parts of the far northern tropics of Australia. In the Gascoyne, WA, and farther East, from the Kimberley in WA to Cape York peninsuala in QLD, down to about the Burdekin River, race "melanurus" is present. Farther down the East coast, in sub-tropical QLD and north-eastern NSW, one finds race "phasianinus". Race "thierfelderi" is resident only on a few islands in the Torres Strait, to the North of Cape York peninsula. Pheasant Coucals are usually found in dense growth near watercourses, but also in canefields.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "phasianinus" M. Adam-Cross reports recording the calls of a Pheasant Coucal, race "phasianinus", at Yarramundi, NSW, 80 km West of Sydney, in February 2011. A single Pheasant Coucal, race "phasianinus", in breeding plumage was spotted by us at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, NSW, in February 2012. The bird arrived a few days after record rainfall in the area, with both local flash flooding and riverine flooding. A single bird was spotted again at the same location in October 2012, where it made its home in very dense undergrowth (African Boxthorn) under River Red Gums along Eulah Creek. Next a bird was heard calling in December 2014. In October 2013 a Pheasant Coucal, race "phasianinus", was spotted near the Bullawa Creek bridge at Eulah Creek, some 6 km from the location of the previous sightings. C. Hayne reports that Pheasant Coucals, race "phasianinus", are rare in the Moree region. A bird was heard calling in dense vegetation along the Mehi River on two separate separate occasions (years apart), most recently in November 2013. A. Lines also reports spotting and hearing a Pheasant Coucal occasionally at Ashley, NSW (a village with many cotton farms and little dense vegetation). Several birds were heard calling along the Gwydir River at Gravesend, NSW, in December 2012. C. Hayne also heard a bird calling at Terry Hie Hie, NSW, in November 2013. Several contributors report finding Pheasant Coucals, race "phasianinus", along the south-eastern coastline of QLD and the northern coastline of NSW, as far southwards as Newcastle, NSW, on various occasions. Race "melanurus" R. Russell reports finding Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", nesting in Mount Molloy, northern QLD, in November 2006. Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", were heard by us calling in monsoonal forest at Fogg Dam CR, NT, and at Holmes Jungle NP, Darwin, NT, in August 2014. Various contributors also report spotting Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", in various locations in the Top End of the NT, in particular in and around Darwin, NT, semi-regularly. J. Greaves reports spotting a pair of Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", in dense shrubs at the airport of Koolan Island, WA, in November 2013, and in Broome, WA, in April 2015. Another was spotted by J. Greaves at Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, in December 2016. P. Brown reports finding Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, in April 2018, and occasionally in various locations in and around Darwin, NT. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", repeatedly at Mareeba, QLD. C. Linfoot finds Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", occasionally at Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD. C. Pears reports spotting Pheasant Coucals, race "melanurus", twice in 2025 in Broome, WA.

Photos

Race "phasianinus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2013]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a preening Pheasant Coucal in ragged breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Macquarie, NSW, January 2021]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, December 2016]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2013]

Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage showing the bird's prominent "eyelashes" (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2013]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage hiding in a tree; it is clearly visible that the bird is keeping a watchful eye on the photographer
[Eulah Creek, February 2012]

This image gives the clearest view of the upper body of the same Pheasant Coucal as shown above; its appearance is somewhat reminiscent of an Apostlebird, with barred wing plumage and a long tail; note also the impressive, long talons
[Eulah Creek, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage with its head cocked
[Eulah Creek, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in a Jacaranda tree with sparse foliage (photo courtesy of J. Meehan)
[Maryland, Newcastle, NSW, November 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, December 2016]

Distant frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2013]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2014]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage looking sideways; it is very unusual for a bird of this species to pose for the camera... (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, May 2017]

Near-frontal portrait of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage; this species is usually shy and frontal shots tend to show birds hiding in dense shrubbery (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, March 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, March 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage on a fence post (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, May 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage on a fence post (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, May 2017]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage; this bird is seen near prickly shrubs, which is its usual habitat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale Forest Park, near Anstead, QLD, April 2017]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage; here the bird is seen out in grassland, which is more unusual (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale Forest Park, near Anstead, QLD, April 2017]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage; it is more unusual yet for a bird of this species to pose for the camera... (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, May 2017]

Race "melanurus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, December 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, December 2016]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage looking at the observer - what is "wrong" with this bird? (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage - it is soaking wet! (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, September 2022]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koolan Island, WA, November 2013]

Lateral view of a moulting Pheasant Coucal; this is one of the two birds whose warning calls were recorded on 27 March 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, December 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]

Dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage with its prey, a grasshopper (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, January 2020]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, September 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kunnunurra, WA, April 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage at take-off (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kunnunurra, WA, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage, with a remnant of black on the nape of the neck
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, July 2022]

Dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage looking back over its shoulder (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Dorsal view of a Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Pheasant Coucal - note the pink gape and the bluish-grey iris (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, March 2024]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan

Eggs: 2(?)

Incubation period: ca. 15 days

Fledging age: ?

The breeding season of Pheasant Coucals depends on geographic latitude and can run from August to March. They can have several broods per season.

Pheasant Coucals are the only non-parasitic cuckoos of Australia, i.e. they build their own nest and bring up their chicks themselves. Note, below, the use of eucalypt leaves as disinfectant.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Male & female

Dependent care: Male

Pheasant Coucal chicks are semi-nidifugous (or semi-precocial). They do not hatch feathered, to leave the nest within a day, but have only some hairy down. However, once they have grown a first coat of feathers, they leave the nest to walk around following their father, who by then is the sole carer, long before they can fly.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Rank grass, straw, sugar cane, pandanus, green eucalypt leaves

Height above ground: N/A

Pheasant Coucal chicks in their nest (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, November 2006]

Pheasant Coucal chicks in their nest; to do a head count, one had best make them beg for food - 2!
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, November 2006]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 38 x 29 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Rounded oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial?

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Although Pheasant Coucals are non-parasitic cuckoos (see above), other birds still know that they are cuckoos and accordingly do not want to have them around. We have seen them being chased by Pied Currawongs.

Food, Diet

Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage flying in with its prey, a grasshopper... (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, January 2020]

... which it then devoured sitting in a tree (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, January 2020]

This Pheasant Coucal in breeding plumage appears to be foraging for prey under the bark of a termite-infested tree trunk
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

pcoucal_art_20131203.m4a	phasianinus (SE QLD)	Male calling female	© ART
pcoucal_mac_20110205.mp3	phasianinus (E NSW)	Male calling female (distant)	© MC
pcoucal_20140817.m4a	melanurus (Top End, NT)	Male calling female (distant)	© MD
pcoucal_pb_20200327.m4a	melanurus (Darwin, NT)	Warning calls, pair (human)	© MD

More Pheasant Coucal sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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