Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis)
Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo

Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx basalis

The Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, scientifically known as Chrysococcyx basalis, is a diminutive member of the Cuculidae family, weighing an average of 22 grams. This species is adorned with an iridescent green and bronze plumage on its back, and features incomplete brown barring that extends from the neck to the tail. A distinctive white eyebrow and a brown eye stripe set it apart from other bronze cuckoos.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, look for the characteristic white eyebrow and the contrasting brown eye stripe. The iridescent green and bronze coloring on the back and the incomplete brown barring are also key identification features.

Habitat

This cuckoo favors the drier open woodlands of Australia, typically avoiding densely forested areas.

Distribution

Horsfield's bronze cuckoo is a common bird throughout Australia, where it can be found in suitable habitats across the continent.

Behaviour

Horsfield's bronze cuckoo exhibits nomadic tendencies, moving across various regions of Australia in search of breeding opportunities and food. During the breeding season, these cuckoos engage in a courtship ritual that involves feeding each other.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Horsfield's bronze cuckoo primarily consists of insects. They forage for small insects on leaves and branches, catch them on the wing, and during the breeding season, engage in the aforementioned courtship feeding behavior.

Breeding

The breeding behavior of Horsfield's bronze cuckoos involves forming monogamous pairs for the season, with females occupying the breeding territory for a few weeks before being replaced by another. These cuckoos do not overlap their breeding territories, which suggests that pairs may defend their area throughout the season.

Parasitism

Horsfield's bronze cuckoo is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of host species, particularly fairy-wrens. The cuckoo's eggs mimic those of the host in size and coloration, and the female cuckoo is swift in laying her eggs, often within 6 seconds, typically replacing one host egg with one of her own. The cuckoo chick hatches earlier than the host's eggs and will eject other eggs from the nest to ensure it receives all the parental care.

Similar Species

While there are other bronze cuckoos, Horsfield's bronze cuckoo can be distinguished by its unique white eyebrow and brown eye stripe.

Conservation status

The Horsfield's bronze cuckoo is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or extinction.

Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoos on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Cuckoos

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.