Chalcites crassirostris
The Pied Bronze Cuckoo, *Chalcites crassirostris*, is a tiny, critically endangered cuckoo species endemic to Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. Measuring a mere 14-16 cm in length, this diminutive bird sports iridescent bronzy-green upperparts that shimmer in direct light, contrasting sharply with its clean white underparts, lending it its distinctive 'pied' moniker. A prominent feature is its striking red eye, often encircled by a narrow red orbital ring, and a short, stout black bill. ...
This species primarily inhabits lowland rainforest and degraded forest edges on Rennell Island, favoring areas with a dense understory and scattered emergent trees.
The diet of the Pied Bronze Cuckoo consists primarily of insects, especially caterpillars, which it gleans from foliage and branches within the forest.
Like most cuckoos, the Pied Bronze Cuckoo is believed to be a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species, though specific host species for *Chalcites crassirostris* are yet to be definitively identified. They are generally solitary or found in pairs, moving stealthily thro...
The Pied Bronze Cuckoo is strictly endemic to Rennell Island, the southernmost island of the Solomon Islands archipelago. Its entire known distribution is confined to this single, relatively small landmass, approximately 660 square kilometers. There are no known breeding or wintering ranges outsi...
Critically Endangered
- The Pied Bronze Cuckoo is one of the world's most geographically restricted bird species, found exclusively on Rennell Island, Solomon Islands. - It is classified as Critically Endangered, making it one of the most imperiled bird species on Earth. - Like its bronze cuckoo relatives, it is suspe...