General Description

Back and wings greyish brown. White tip on shoulder. Head and chin grey with a paler grey eye ring. Belly and underparts buff. Under tail grey with whitish notches. Juveniles mottled brown above with brown barring on the grey belly and underparts. Body size 22-26 cm.

Biology

Usually single or in pairs and difficult to detect as it sits still on a tree branch. However its presence is often given away by an incessant plaintive "fear fear fear" descending call that is far carrying. In the breeding season, the male calls with shrill excited rising calls. When feeding, it sits quietly waiting for an unsuspecting insect to pounce on. Hairy caterpillars are a preferred food. In southern Australia it is migratory, moving northward in the winter. It is a parasitic breeder, laying its eggs in the nest of other birds such as flycatchers, robins, wrens and honeyeaters. It lays one egg, which is similar to that of the host. When it hatches, the hatchling kicks out the eggs and young of the host, who then raises it as its own.

Distribution

Northern and eastern Australia.

Habitat

Variety of well-treed habitats from rainforest to woodlands, often where there is a thick shrub layer.

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