When do long-tailed cuckoos stop calling?

[Colin Miskelly]

Long-tailed cuckoos were heard every day on Secretary Island (Doubtful Sound, Fiordland) 18-21 February, but none was heard on Coal Island (Preservation Inlet) further south during 23-25 February. Both islands have populations of two host species (brown creeper and mohua).

Ngā mihi
Colin

[Ian Southey]

Colin

I suspect you were there on the cusp of migration. Many years ago I was wandering around not too far away in the Stillwater Valley through the middle of February. I remember the Long-tailed Cuckoos very vocal early in the trip, gathering in little groups and being quite active with some chasing and then toward the end I realised I hadn't heard any for a few days and I heard no more around Fiordland after that date. Maybe you witnessed a similar thing.

I wonder if you remember the weather? Last week in Auckland we had a SW change and a welcome drop in temperature. It occurs to me that the wind might have might have brought a change form headwinds to tailwinds and allowed all of the cuckoos to depart.

Ian

[Oscar Thomas]

Marylin Rea-Menzies reported hearing multiple Long-tailed Cuckoos two days ago in Westport on the New Zealand Birders Facebook page:

“Last night in Westport, I heard a bird calling. It was quite late at night about 9-10 pm quite dark and fine weather, when I heard a long high-pitched bird call in a tree outside my place [in line with online recordings of Long-tailed Cuckoo] It went on for a while and when I went outside there were four or five others calling over in the Domain about 5 minutes walk away from my place. This went on for about an hour off and on!“

[Colin Miskelly]

A long-tailed cuckoo was calling on Kapiti Island early this morning, but none others heard during the rest of the day

Colin

[lloydesler]

On 5 January 2021 I heard six Long-tailed cuckoos calling at Milford Sound and on 14 January there were eight calling at the Homer Hut close to the Homer Tunnel. I believe they get together and form a migrating flock from various point on the West Coast.

[Jim Kirker]

Two calling in forest between lake Rotoiti and Okataina early afternoon last Sunday 24 Jan.

[simon.fordham]

They call during their migration north. We have heard and seen these in South-east Auckland in March.

[RussCannings]

They also call on the wintering grounds. I don't know how it compares to the breeding grounds but certainly they are heard throughout the winter in Rarotonga and other places. I image they are less vocal overall though.

[ledzep]

I heard several calling at different locations in the Akatarawa forest (Karapoti side) on Monday.

[Oscar Thomas]

Lots of birds calling in Whanganui NP and Pureora Forest over the last week.