Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Chalcites ruficollis

The Shining Bronze-Cuckoo is a small cuckoo found in Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands. It is known for its iridescent green and bronze plumage, with a distinctive white eyebrow and underparts. This species is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly fairy-wrens and thornbills. The Shining Bronze-Cuckoo feeds on insects and caterpillars, often catching them in mid-air. It prefers open woodlands, forests, and shrublands with dense undergrowth, where it can find suitable hosts for its parasitic breeding habits.

Habitat: Open woodlands, forests, shrublands