Hi Zoe,
I received my copy of the February issue of the Bird Observer today and noted
the photograph of the Bronze-Cuckoo on page 9. I believe that the bird is in
fact, a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, and not, as indicated, a Horsfield's
Bronze-Cuckoo. My reasons are that there is too much green on the back, the
barring on the chest/belly doesn't always go completely across on the Shining
Bronze, the characteristic dark line through the eye is missing - there is
some dark mottling below and behind the eye but this is different to the dark
stripe on a Horsfield's, the brown cap is typical of the Australian race
(Golden Bronze-Cuckoo) whereas the nominate New Zealand race is green on the
cap and mantle. A very good ID character is the amount of rufous in the tail
(unfortunately not shown in the photos) a large amount in the Horsfield's and a
small amount in the Shining.
Bronze-Cuckoos can be difficult and we also have the Little Bronze-Cuckoo in
our area to make things interesting. Adult males are easy to tell with their
red eye rings but females are somewhat similar to Shining Bronze-Cuckoos.
I have banded a number of Bronze-Cuckoos over the years so have had them in the
hand. The best way to distinguish them is from their calls.
Regards
Greg Clancy
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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