Re: "Pheasant-tailed Coucal" southern limit - confusion.

Mike Jarman gave me more details yesterday :

"Unfortunately I didn't have a GPS with me at the time, But the bird was
along Krawarree Rd between Numeralla Rd and Badja Swamps NR on freehold
land.  Pretty unmistakable.  We hadn't been travelling long (maybe 10-15
minutes) up Krawarree Rd.

When I pointed out the bird from the car, the NPWS field officer who I was
travelling with said that he had seen these birds on the Tianjara plateau
above Milton whilst slashing the vegetation."


Cheers
Marnix



                                                                           
             "Philip Veerman"                                              
             <                                             
             g.au>                                                      To 
                                          < 
             23/11/2006 06:38             .au>,                            
             PM                           <>, 
                                          "Caroline Blackmore"             
                                          <>          
                                                                        cc 
                                                                           
                                                                   Subject 
                                          "Pheasant-tailed Coucal"         
                                          southern limit - confusion.      
                                                                           
                                                            Classification 
                                          |-------------------|            
                                          | [X] Unclassified  |            
                                          | [ ] In Confidence |            
                                          |-------------------|            
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




Sorry but I suggest there is a little confusion in this discussion.
Pheasant Coucal is a large terrestrial cuckoo. I doubt the bird seen is a
Pheasant Coucal. Like Ian, I suggest lyrebird or even an escaped domestic
pheasant (any of various possible species) is more likely (depending on
what the observer actually saw). Also "Pheasant-tailed Coucal" seems to be
confusing names between Pheasant-tailed Jacana (which it surely isn't) and
Pheasant Coucal. As for Caroline's comparison with koel and channel-billed
cuckoos, it is not such a strong link. There is a big difference as these
other two are strong fliers and are long-distance migrants that would
normally arrive close to our region.

Philip