Black-Eared Cuckoo

About the Black-Eared Cuckoo

The black-eared cuckoo (Chalcites osculans) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. Found across Australia, it migrates to eastern Indonesia and southern New Guinea. They are usually observed by themselves or in a pair as they don't raise their own young, rather they leave eggs in another species nest to be raised by host. This species was formerly placed in the genus Chrysococcyx.

Adult weight on average 30 grams (1.1 oz) and are 19 to 20 cm (7.5 to 7.9 in) long, with dull greyish-brown back with distinctive black eye-stripe from the bill to the neck. Rump is pale white and breasts area is pale salmon in colour. Feet and legs are black, eyes are brown, bill is black tail is grey/brown on top, with white tips, while underneath the tail is cream with brownish bars.

What distinguishes it from other small sized cuckoo species in Australia is that it doesn't have a metallic coloured feathers on its back. Juveniles are duller in colour with a more brown eye-stripe. Chicks will give a chirp,

while in adults a descending feeeuw or pee-o-weer call in a lower mournful tone than the Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, which may be a singular or repeated.... Wikipedia →