Shining Bronze Cuckoo

The Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus, is a diminutive and elusive bird, measuring a mere 13 to 18 centimeters in length. Its plumage glistens with metallic hues of golden or coppery green across the upperparts, while the underparts are a stark white, barred with dark green. The female of the species is similar in appearance but boasts a more purplish sheen on the crown and nape, with a hint of bronze in the belly's barring. This bird's bill is a deep black, and its feet are also black with a contrasting yellow underside.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Shining Bronze Cuckoo, look for its distinctive metallic sheen and the dark barring on its underparts. Its small size and the white cheeks are also key characteristics that can aid in its identification. Observers should note the subtle differences between males and females, particularly the purplish crown on the female.

Habitat

This species is known to inhabit a variety of wooded environments, often favoring the company of Gerygone species whose dome-shaped nests it parasitizes. It is also found in areas where other Acanthizidae species are present.

Distribution

The Shining Bronze Cuckoo has a broad range, being found across Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is a migratory bird, with some populations traveling to places like the Lesser Sunda Islands and New Guinea during the winter months.

Behaviour

This cuckoo is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, particularly those of the Gerygone genus. After hatching, the young cuckoo will instinctively eject the host's eggs or chicks from the nest to monopolize the food supply provided by the unsuspecting foster parents.

Breeding

During the breeding season, the female Shining Bronze Cuckoo will lay a single egg in the nest of a host species, often removing one of the host's eggs to make room for her own. The egg's dark coloration is thought to protect it from being removed by other cuckoos rather than the hosts.

Similar Species

The Shining Bronze Cuckoo can be confused with Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), but it is slightly larger and has different coloration and barring patterns.

Diet and Feeding

This cuckoo has a particular appetite for insects that are typically avoided by other birds. It feeds on caterpillars, including those of the magpie moth, and beetles such as ladybirds. Its gizzard has a specialized lining to catch and expel the spines of caterpillars.

Conservation status

The Shining Bronze Cuckoo is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction in the wild.