Hello. I hope you can help me to identify these two birds which I have seen in my garden yesterday and today. They both have fan tails and I think they may be some kind of cuckoo - bit dubious though. The one with the black head has a white eye stripe which doesn't match the cuckoos in my birdbook. The one with the white head has a very strong white beak. The pics aren't very clear (I blame the camera!). Any ideas would be great. Thanks Pam
Hi Pam,
I think the last 2 photos are young Channel billed Cuckoos.
And I think the first photo is definetly an Eastern Koel? Probably an immature or female?
Curtis
I think Curtis is right
, the first one would be a female Common Koel. (at least I hope
)
M-L
I think you're absolutely right. Now I know the name I have found it on your species info page. What a great page of information! You have also now solved the mystery of the black bird with the red eye (clearly the male) which I see annually. Thanks, Pam
That's interesting Pam.
Both of these birds are summer migrants from northern climes. You can expect them to disappear from your garden again, sometime in the next couple of months, and arrive back in September or October next year.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Don't you mean that they will arrive back in September-October this year
?
Curtis
Yep, I do... Thanks!
Maybe it's still early enough in 2013 to get away with forgetting it's a new year?
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Yep, that is correct! I used to do that.
Curtis
Timmo right ,heard a koel today.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW