Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Goliath Coucal
Centropus goliath
Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 499 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Centropus
- Species goliath
Quick facts
- Weight
- 499 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Goliath Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Goliath Coucal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Morotai to Obi (n Moluccas).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 499 g, with a wing length of about 26.9 cm and a tail of around 40.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 25,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Goliath Coucal?
The Goliath Coucal is a large bird that weighs around 499 g.
Where does the Goliath Coucal live?
The Goliath Coucal is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Morotai to Obi (n Moluccas), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Goliath Coucal belong to?
The Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Goliath Coucal eat?
The Goliath Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Goliath Coucal migrate?
The Goliath Coucal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Goliath Coucal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Goliath Coucal make?
1 real field recording of the Goliath Coucal — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Goliath Coucal's range?
The Goliath Coucal has a mapped global range of about 25,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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