What is the function of Channel-billed Cuckoo's calling flights?

[Laurie Knight <>]

Well there is that, but CBCs often call when they are on their own  
with no others in earshot.  They call when they are high up and not  
being mobbed, and they call when they are flying in circles closer to  
the ground.  I have never heard one call near a fruit tree.
The thing is that a lone CBC calling would seem to be a more obvious  
target (given that it is calling attention to itself) particularly  
when it is flying high.
I have heard CBCs make a bit of a chuckling call that might be similar  
to a raptor.
Are there any published records of their behaviour when they are nest  
raiding?
Regards, Laurie.

PS I am not sure that it was a grammatical necessity to change the  
subject line. (I think that makes it a separate thread in the archives).
On 06/12/2011, at 2:44 PM, Stephen Ambrose wrote:

> I think it is more likely to ensure "safety in numbers" especially  
> while in
> flight. A lone individual is more likely to be mobbed by a nest host  
> species
> (currawong or magpie) or preyed upon by a predator (large raptor)  
> than one
> that is part of a flock. An individual calling as it takes flight  
> alerts
> others to follow. Calling while in flight keeps individuals within a  
> flock
> close together, especially if they are flying at night.
>
> Dr Stephen Ambrose
> Ryde NSW
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
>  On Behalf Of Philip  
> Veerman
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 2:56 PM
> To: 'Birding Aus'
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] What is the function of Channel-billed Cuckoo's
> calling flights?
>
> Interesting question. Presumably, like most migrant cuckoos they  
> call for
> social or sexual reasons when they arrive at their breeding areas.  
> But I
> don't think that is the question being asked. Which raises to me the  
> idea
> that yes they are cuckoos, but in their way of feeding they are  
> different
> from most cuckoos. They are mainly fruit eaters. I would think that  
> fruit is
> a geographically concentrated food source, as distinct from the more  
> evenly
> spread insect food source that most cuckoos use. So I propose (for
> consideration, with no proof I hope you understand) that maybe it is  
> the
> calling related to finding food - if they want to share it that is,  
> or maybe
> it provides a way to assemble in groups at places with abundant food.
>
> Philip
>
>
> -----Original Message-----From: birding-aus- 
>
>  On Behalf Of Peter  
> Shute
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 8:29 AM	To: 'Greg & Val Clancy';  
> 'Laurie
> Knight'; 'Birding Aus'	Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] What is the  
> function of
> Channel-billedCuckoo callingflights?
>
>
> What's the most CBCs you could expect to see in a flock? Do any  
> other cuckoo
> species fly in flocks like that?
>
> Peter Shute
>
> > -----Original Message-----> From:  
> > >
>  On Behalf Of
> > Greg & Val Clancy   > Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 7:41 AM     >
> To: Laurie Knight; Birding Aus
> > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] What is the function of Channel-billed  
> > Cuckoo
> callingflights?
> > As they call at all times of the breeding cycle I would think
> > that the
> > suggestion that it is to 'pick up' immature birds would not
> > fully explain
> > why they call in flight.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Greg
> > Dr Greg. P. Clancy
> > Ecologist and Wildlife Guide
> > Coutts Crossing
> > NSW