Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Cacomantis flabelliformis

The fan-tailed cuckoo, known scientifically as Cacomantis flabelliformis, is a medium-sized bird measuring approximately 25 to 27 centimeters in length. It boasts a slate-grey plumage on its head, back, and wings, while its underparts are a striking rufous color. The tail is notably barred with black and white, and the bird's eye is encircled by a distinctive yellow orbital ring.

Identification Tips

To distinguish the fan-tailed cuckoo from its relatives, look for the yellow eye ring which sets it apart from the smaller and paler brush cuckoo and the chestnut-breasted cuckoo, which is also smaller in size.

Habitat

This species is quite adaptable, residing in temperate forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and moist montane forests. It is also known to frequent human-altered landscapes such as paddocks, orchards, and gardens.

Distribution

The fan-tailed cuckoo is widespread, found across Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. In Australia, its range spans from Cape York in Queensland to Shark Bay in Western Australia, with a presence in Tasmania as well.

Breeding

Breeding season for the fan-tailed cuckoo in Australia occurs from July to January. Exhibiting brood parasitism, it lays a single mauve white egg, adorned with red and/or brown spots, in the nests of other bird species such as fairywrens or thornbills, favoring domed-shaped nests.

Behaviour

The fan-tailed cuckoo is known for its perching behavior, often sitting in exposed locations to scout for prey. Upon spotting a potential meal, it swiftly pounces, capturing its target mid-air or on the ground.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the fan-tailed cuckoo can be described as a descending trill, accompanied by a grasshopper-like chirp, adding a unique chorus to the sounds of the wilderness.

Diet and Feeding

A versatile feeder, the fan-tailed cuckoo's diet includes insects and their larvae, fruits, vegetables, and occasionally small reptiles, mammals, and bird chicks.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the fan-tailed cuckoo as "Least Concern." The species benefits from a broad distribution and a presumed large population, with no significant threats currently identified. Even with a potential downward trend in population numbers, the rate is not alarming enough to warrant a higher threat category.

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

Fan-tailed Cuckoos on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Cuckoos

A photo of a Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) , male

Plaintive Cuckoo

Cacomantis merulinus
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
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
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.
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.