Long-tailed koel
Migratory brood parasite breeding only in New Zealand.
The long-tailed koel (Urodynamis taitensis), also known as the long-tailed cuckoo, is a migratory bird species in the Cuculidae family. It is the only species in the genus Urodynamis and is notable for being a brood parasite that breeds exclusively in New Zealand, then winters across Pacific islands. Its arrival and departure were used by Māori as signals for planting and harvesting sweet potato.
- Scientific name
- Urodynamis taitensis
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Length
- 40–42 cm
- Wingspan
- 47–52 cm
- Weight
- about 120 grams
- Breeding range
- New Zealand
- Winter range
- Pacific islands (Palau to Pitcairn Island)
Lore & Background
The long-tailed koel is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of Mohoua species—whiteheads in the North Island, yellowheads and brown creepers in the South Island—as well as robins, tomtits, and occasionally fantails. Its eggs hatch before the host's, and the chick ejects the host's eggs. The chick can mimic the calls of its host's chicks.
It is a solitary bird that forages mainly at night, feeding on insects, bird eggs, nestlings, adult birds up to the size of thrushes, lizards, and occasionally fruit and seeds. It rarely forages on the ground, preferring the tops of trees or shrubs. Its call is a loud, intense shrill whistle, earning it the name 'screamer'.
Māori believed the koel's spring arrival signaled time to plant kūmara (sweet potato), and its autumn departure signaled harvest time. The bird's migration routes likely guided Polynesian ancestors to New Zealand.
Reader's Guide
The long-tailed koel is significant as New Zealand's only breeding cuckoo and a classic example of brood parasitism. Its life cycle ties together New Zealand and the vast Pacific, migrating up to 3,500 kilometers each way. Its winter range spans nearly 11,000 km from Palau to Pitcairn Island. The species is at risk in New Zealand, threatened by introduced predators such as rats and stoats. Its cultural importance to Māori as a seasonal indicator for kūmara cultivation highlights its role in traditional ecological knowledge. Taxonomically, it is the sole member of the genus Urodynamis, most closely related to the channel-billed cuckoo, and is distinct from the true koels (Eudynamys). Its conservation status and unique migratory pattern make it a subject of ongoing interest.
Did You Know?
- The long-tailed koel is the only species placed in the genus Urodynamis.
- It is a brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of Mohoua species, robins, tomtits, and occasionally fantails.
- Its winter distribution stretches almost 11,000 km from Palau to Pitcairn Island.
- Māori used its arrival to signal planting time for sweet potato and its departure for harvest.
More in Birds of the Pacific Ocean 1-24
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