The long-tailed koel, also known as the long-tailed cuckoo, Pacific long-tailed cuckoo, sparrow hawk, home owl, screecher, screamer or koekoeā in Māori, is a species of the Cuculidae bird family. It is the only species placed in the genus Urodynamis. It is a migratory bird that spends spring and summer in New Zealand, its only breeding place, and spends winter in the Pacific islands. It is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaving them to raise its chicks.
Region
Southwest Pacific
Typical Environment
Breeds throughout forested areas of New Zealand’s main islands and some offshore islands, favoring mature native forest and tall mixed woodland. Outside the breeding season it disperses widely across the tropical Pacific, occurring on island groups such as Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the Cook and Society Islands, and others. It uses forest interiors, edges, and valley systems, often following ridgelines during movements. On wintering islands it keeps to wooded habitats and plantations, occasionally visiting gardens near forest margins.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the long-tailed cuckoo or koekoeā, it is the sole member of the genus Urodynamis. It breeds only in New Zealand and migrates thousands of kilometers to winter on tropical Pacific islands. A brood parasite, it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds—especially Mohoua species—leaving hosts to raise its chicks. Its shrill, far-carrying calls are a familiar sound in New Zealand forests in spring and summer.
Temperament
secretive and elusive
Flight Pattern
fast, direct flight with strong wingbeats; agile through forest
Social Behavior
Generally solitary outside breeding season. As a brood parasite, females surreptitiously lay eggs in the nests of host species, commonly Mohoua (whitehead, yellowhead, brown creeper). Hosts raise the cuckoo chick, which outcompetes the host’s young. Nests are not built by this species.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, piercing screeches and repeated wailing notes that carry far through the forest. It also gives rapid, harsh calls in flight and at dusk, often heard before the bird is seen.
Plumage
Upperparts are warm brown with darker streaking; underparts are off-white to buff with bold brown streaks. The long, graduated tail shows prominent dark barring and is often fanned or flicked. Feathers are sleek and close-fitting, giving a streamlined look in flight.
Diet
Feeds mainly on large invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, stick insects, wētā, and spiders. It will also take small vertebrates, including lizards and the eggs or nestlings of other birds. Prey is gleaned from trunks and foliage or snatched in quick sallies between branches.
Preferred Environment
Forages in native forest canopies and subcanopies, along forest edges, and sometimes in regenerating scrub. On wintering islands it uses wooded ravines, plantations, and mature gardens adjacent to forest.
