The tail markings look a lot like one but the yellow around the eye looks less distinct and the head looks too 'neat' and overall too brown? Maybe a female? Any ideas? All in all, I think it's something else. It seemed to be the size and shape of a thrush. Roger
Hi Roger, I still think it's a juvenile Fan-tailed Cuckoo, the markings on the tail are the right colour .
The Pallid Cuckoo has a grey& white notched tail. Let's wait what others think? To me it's a young Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
M-L
I find the young Cuckoos a bit tricky. I'm with M-L on this one, juvenile Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Definitely not a young Pallid, & I would expect a young Brush Cuckoo to be more mottled or blotchy on the upperparts.
Steve
Hmmm, thanks M-L and Steve, I think the jury is still out? Here's a fantailed cuckoo from last year, pretty different.
The last one is different becuase it's an adult & the first one is a juvenile. Since the first one appears to have some evidence of a yellow eye-ring starting to show thru, that means it's almost certainly a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
Steve
As Steve said immature cuckoos are always hard to ID in photos . Just like the TV show the voice , close your eyes and listen to the call. F.T. Cuckoo for me too.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW