Subspecies Centropus phasianinus phasianinus (Latham, 1801)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Cuculus phasianinus Latham, J. 1801. Supplementum Indicis Ornithologici, sive Systematis Ornithologiae. London : G. Leigh, J. & S. Sotheby 74 pp. [30] [also as incorrect subsequent spelling, phasianus by Leach, W.E. 1814. The Zoological Miscellany; being descriptions of new, or interesting animals. Illustrated by R.P. Nodder. London : Nodder & Son Vol. 1 144 pp. pls 1–60 [For publication date Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp. Zimmer, J.T. 1926. Catalogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library. Field Museum of Natural History Publications, Zoological Series 16: 1–364 (Pt 1, Publ. 239), 365–706 (Pt 2, Publ. 240)] (116) and others cited by Mathews, G.M. 1919. The Birds of Australia. London : Witherby & Co. Vol. 7 pts 1–5 499 +xii pp. pls 325–370; based on the Pheasant Cuckoo in Latham, J. 1802. Supplement II. to the General Synopsis of Birds. London : Leigh, Sotheby & Son 376 pp. pls CXX–CXL [publication dated as 1801] (137), in turn based on Thomas Watling drawing no. 73 in BMNH, see Sharpe, R.B. 1906. Birds. pp. 79–515 in, The History of the Collections contained in the Natural History Departments of the British Museum. London : British Museum Vol. 2. (121); for identity of drawing, see Gray, G.R. 1843. Some rectification of the nomenclature of Australian birds. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 1 11: 189–194; type locality restricted here to the central coast of NSW because that region was the source of material for the Watling paintings, see Hindwood, K.A. 1970. The "Watling" drawings, with incidental notes on the "Lambert" and the "Latham" drawings. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1968–69: 16–32 pls IV–VII].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown (lost, figured on Thomas Watling drawing no. 73 in BMNH), central coast of New South Wales (as Nova Hollandia).

  Type locality references:

  Mason, I.J. in Schodde, R. & Mason, I.J. 1997. Aves (Columbidae to Coraciidae). In, Houston, W.W.K. & Wells, A. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia Vol. 37.2 xiii 440 pp. [259] (cf. Hindwood, K.A. 1970. The "Watling" drawings, with incidental notes on the "Lambert" and the "Latham" drawings. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 1968–69: 16–32 pls IV–VII).
• Polophilus variegatus Leach, W.E. 1814. The Zoological Miscellany; being descriptions of new or interesting animals. London : E. Nodder & Son Vol. 1 144 pp. 60 pls. [116] [based on a specimen then in BMNH, but not since cited by Shelley, G.E. 1891. Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Picariae-Cuculidae. London : British Museum Vol. 19 xii 484 pp. 13 pls, nor by Warren, R.L.M. 1966. Type-specimens of Birds in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 1 Non-Passerines. London : British Museum ix 320 pp.; holotype figured on pl. 51 in original description, representing an adult bird in non-breeding plumage; in view of the stage reached by British exploration of eastern Australia by 1814, the restriction of the type locality to New South Wales by Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171–455 [publication dated Jan. 1912, published 31 Jan.] is reasonable].

  Type data:

   Holotype whereabouts unknown (?BMNH, figured on pl. 51 in Leach, W.E. 1814. The Zoological Miscellany; being descriptions of new, or interesting animals. Illustrated by R.P. Nodder. London : Nodder & Son Vol. 1 144 pp. pls 1–60 [For publication date Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp. Zimmer, J.T. 1926. Catalogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library. Field Museum of Natural History Publications, Zoological Series 16: 1–364 (Pt 1, Publ. 239), 365–706 (Pt 2, Publ. 240)]), New South Wales (as from unknown locality).

  Type locality references:

  Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] [297].
• Polophilus gigas Stephens, J.F. 1815. In, General Zoology or Systematic Natural History, commenced by the late George Shaw, M.D.F.R.S. & C. Aves. London : J. Walker Vol. IX Pt I i 227 pp. pls 1-40. [45] [as Gigas; based on le Coucal géant on p. 86 and figured on pl. 223 in Levaillant, F. 1806. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique. Paris : Delachaussée Vol. V 124 pp. pls 200–247; although Levaillant's 'Coucal géant' was recorded as from Africa, Sundevall, C.J. 1857. Kritisk framställning af fogelarterna uti äldre Ornithologiska arbeten. I. Museum Carlsonianum. II. Le Vaillant, Oiseaux d'Afrique. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar ns 2(3): 16–60 showed that it was based on Australian material, see also Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp.; Zimmer, J.T. 1926. Catalogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library. Field Museum of Natural History Publications, Zoological Series 16: 1–364 (Pt 1, Publ. 239), 365–706 (Pt 2, Publ. 240)].

  Type data:

   Holotype RMNH (C.J. Temminck Cabinet cat. no. 562) (figured on pl. 223 in Levaillant, F. 1806. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique. Paris : Delachaussée Vol. V 124 pp. pls 200–247), New South Wales (as Africa)
  Comment: for identification of holotype, see Stresemann, E. 1953. Analyse von C.J. Temmincks "Catalogue Systématique" (1807). Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden) 31: 319–331 (327).

  Type locality references:

  Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] (cf. Stresemann, E. 1953. Analyse von C.J. Temmincks "Catalogue Systématique" (1807). Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden) 31: 319–331 [327]).
• Corydonyx giganteus Vieillot, L.P. 1819. Toulou. pp. 294–299 in, Nouveau Dictionaire d'Histoire Naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'Agriculture, à l'Écomomie rurale et domestique, à la Médecine, etc. Par une société de naturalistes et d'agriculteurs. Nouvelle Édition. Paris : Déterville. 34 pp. [Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp.] [295] [as Corydonix giganteus; based on le Coucal géant on p. 86 and figured on pl. 223 in Levaillant, F. 1806. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique. Paris : Delachaussée Vol. V 124 pp. pls 200–247, thus an objective synonym of Polophilus gigas Stephens, 1815; for identification of holotype and type locality, see Polophilus gigas Stephens, 1815, above].

  Type data:

   Holotype RMNH (C.J. Temminck Cabinet cat. no. 562) (figured on pl. 223 in Levaillant, F. 1806. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique. Paris : Delachaussée Vol. V 124 pp. pls 200–247), New South Wales (as Nouvelle—Zélande).

  Type locality references:

  Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] (cf. Stresemann, E. 1953. Analyse von C.J. Temmincks "Catalogue Systématique" (1807). Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden) 31: 319–331 [327]).
• Centropus speciosus Brookes, J. 1830. A Descriptive and Historical Catalogue of the remainder of the Anatomical and Zoological Museum of Joshua Brookes, Esq., F.R.S. London : J. Brookes Pt II pp. [unpaginated] [nom. nud.; published in the second sale catalogue of the Joshua Brookes Museum, a copy of which is held in BMNH; assigned to synonymy of Centropus p. phasianinus (Latham, 1802) by Mathews, G.M. 1924. In Proceedings of meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, March 12, 1924. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 44: 69–70, but name unavailable under ICZN Art. 11 (e)].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s).
• Centropus phasianus Shelley, G.E. 1891. Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Picariae-Cuculidae. London : British Museum Vol. 19 xii 484 pp. 13 pls. [340] [unjustified emendation of Cuculus phasianinus Latham, 1802].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Mason, I.J., McKean, J.L. & Dudzinski, M.L. 1984. Geographical variation in the Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus (Latham) and a description of a new subspecies from Timor. The Emu 84: 1-15 [6-9]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Coastal to near inland central E Australia, north to about Proserpine-Suttor River-Lake Buchanan, QLD—south to the Shoalhaven River and (formerly?) Ulladulla, NSW—and inland to W footslopes of the Great Dividing Range, reaching Longreach, Charleville and Goondiwindi, QLD, and Bellata, Bingara, Lake Cargelligo and Orange, NSW—also Fraser, Bribie, Moreton, Peel and Stradbroke Ils. Intergrades with C. p. melanurus Gould, 1847 north through the Burdekin River drainage, QLD.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

drainage basins and coastal and oceanic zones

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin, SE coastal
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin, NE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Arboreal, arthropod-feeder, diurnal, low open woodland, low woodland, open forest, open heath, open scrub, predator, sedentary, swamp, tall open shrubland, terrestrial, territorial, volant, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Territorial (during breeding), randomly dispersed, seasonal breeder, sexually dimorphic (size), solitary or in pairs and family groups, walks and runs among and under grass sward, spends little time in trees, flies clumsily, feeds mainly on invertebrates and small vertebrates captured on ground, non-parasitic, builds rough platform or occasionally domed nest in base of tall rank grass tussocks, both sexes incubate and rear young over austral summer.

General References

Bell, H.L. 1984. Carrying of young in flight by Coucals Centropus spp. Australian Bird Watcher 10: 171 [Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp.] (behaviour)

Hindwood, K.A. 1942. Notes on the Coucal. The Emu 41: 249-252 [Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp. Zimmer, J.T. 1926. Catalogue of the Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Library. Field Museum of Natural History Publications, Zoological Series 16: 1–364 (Pt 1, Publ. 239), 365–706 (Pt 2, Publ. 240)] (nidification)

Hindwood, K.A. 1954. The distribution of the Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) in Australia. The Emu 54: 1-6 (distribution)

Mackness, B. 1979. The ecology of the Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus (Latham) in Australia. Sunbird 10: 1-8 (nidification, voice, diet, distribution)

Mason, I.J., McKean, J.L. & Dudzinski, M.L. 1984. Geographical variation in the Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus (Latham) and a description of a new subspecies from Timor. The Emu 84: 1-15 (nidification, distribution, taxonomy)

Mills, K. 1987. The Pheasant Coucal in southern New South Wales, and a recent record from the Illawarra. Australian Birds 21: 22-24 (distribution)

North, A.J. 1912. Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania. Sydney : Australian Museum Spec. Cat. 1 Vol. 3 vii 362 pp. (nidification)

Pratt, E. 1972. Some answers about Coucal nesting. Sunbird 3: 19-25 (nidification)

History of changes