Chalcites megarhynchus
The Long-billed Cuckoo (*Chalcites megarhynchus*, often classified under *Chrysococcyx*) is a strikingly elegant and notably elusive member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, known for its distinctive elongated bill. Measuring around 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of approximately 25-30 cm, this small cuckoo exhibits a glossy bronzy-green plumage across its upperparts, contrasting with paler, subtly barred underparts. A key field mark distinguishing it from its bronze-cuckoo relatives is i...
This species thrives in lowland tropical rainforests, including swamp forests and forest edges, often frequenting areas near water bodies. It typically occurs at elevations below 500 meters, though it can occasionally be found up to 1000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists mainly of caterpillars, including hairy species, supplemented by spiders and other small arthropods. It forages by gleaning insects from foliage and bark within the forest canopy.
The Long-billed Cuckoo is a largely solitary and highly arboreal bird, spending most of its time hidden within the dense canopy and sub-canopy layers of its forest home. Its daily activity is diurnal, characterized by quiet, deliberate movements as it forages, often going unnoticed by observers. ...
The Long-billed Cuckoo is endemic to the Australasian region, primarily distributed across the vast island of New Guinea and several surrounding smaller islands. Its breeding range encompasses the entire mainland of New Guinea, spanning both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and t...
Least Concern
- The Long-billed Cuckoo possesses one of the most uniquely shaped bills among its cuckoo relatives, notably long and decurved, a specialized tool for gleaning insects from dense foliage. - Despite its striking appearance, it is notoriously shy and elusive, often heard more frequently than it is ...