Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Chalcites basalis
Family: Cuckoos · Status: Very rare migrant · Size: 16 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds across Australia, with some populations dispersing north during the southern winter to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, and Singapore.
Small cuckoo that is brownish-bronze above (can appear green under bright light), with prominent dark-brown eyestripe and contrasting white eyebrow curving down the neck sides, and faint brown streaks on throat. Underside features bold barring on flanks and unbarred belly. Outermost tail feathers rufous-chestnut, compared to greenish inner tail feathers. Often shows pale or bronze coloured margins to coverts, although this feature may vary with wear-and-tear. Iris colour varies from pale to dark red. Males are more boldly marked on the flanks and throat than females, and females have more extensive rufous on the outer tail feathers. Can look similar to female Little Bronze Cuckoo or other small, but easily distinguished by the unbroken bold white supercilium curling down the neck sides, dark eyestripe, streaked throat (as opposed to barred), and rufous outer tail feathers.
Secondary growth, open woodland, and grassland near the coast.
Feeds mainly on caterpillars and insects, gleaned from foliage or on the ground. A brood parasite of small Australian passerines including thornbills and fairy-wrens.