Photo: Bilby / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Scythrops novaehollandiae
Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 684 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 Scythrops
- Species novaehollandiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 684 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Wallacea, n, e Australia and e Bismarck Arch.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 684 g, with a wing length of about 33.9 cm and a tail of around 27 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 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Channel-billed Cuckoo?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is a large bird that weighs around 684 g.
Where does the Channel-billed Cuckoo live?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Wallacea, n, e Australia and e Bismarck Arch, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Channel-billed Cuckoo belong to?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Channel-billed Cuckoo eat?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Channel-billed Cuckoo migrate?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Channel-billed Cuckoo 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 Channel-billed Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Channel-billed Cuckoo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Channel-billed Cuckoo's range?
The Channel-billed Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million 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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