Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

This post is for World Bird Wednesday.

On our trip along the Mary valley the other day we also stopped at Stirling's Crossing. There were more Bellbirds here but quite a lot of other birds as well. We were strolling along the track when we saw this Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) fly into the bushes ahead of us. Instead of flying up into the trees where it would be well hidden it flew off into some more low shrubs and we were able to get good photos of it. None of my birding books show so much green on this bird although in the description one book says it has an iridescent green color. It is 17-18cm in size. This cuckoo lays its eggs in the nests of other birds such as warblers, thornbills, scrubwrens and sometimes fantails and robins.

14 comments:

  1. beautiful bird! love the eyes and 'hummingbird-like' plumage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous bird! Magnificent shots, Mick. I'd love to see it one day if I ever make it to your part of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Mick
    Lovely images of a gorgeous bird. It was very cooperative for you giving you front and back views.
    Denis

    ReplyDelete
  4. What beautiful green. Lovely bird.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A real beauty Mick you can see why it's been given that name.
    stunning little bird.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So beautiful bird with the green feathers! Great capture!

    ReplyDelete
  7. a shining cuckoo? I love that. It looks good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great shots of a wonderful looking bird!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The birds I find here when visiting your site never fail to amaze me. Great captures Mick!

    My recent post: Osprey Chicks

    ReplyDelete
  10. A beautiful bird! You certainly captured the iridescence of its feathers!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an amazing bird and wonderful photos!
    I never even heard of this species before.

    ReplyDelete
  12. He looks smaller than you say he is but what a little beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cuckoo...Like in my clock? What a neat little bird. Would love to see one :)

    ReplyDelete