Pheasant Coucal

The Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) is a very large cuckoo that occurs in the the northern and eastern parts of Australia. It is also the only Australian cuckoo that builds its own nest. The nest is built on the ground, a shallow platform constructed out of sticks and grass.

They lay between two and five white eggs, with both sexes taking care of the young, the male parent providing most of the food to the young.

The Pheasant Coucal have a streaked rusty brown colour, with white-streaked chestnut underparts to the plumage. During the breeding season, the plumage on the head, neck, front breast and belly becomes blac, with barred chestnut wings and long black, brown and barred cream tails.