Breeding plumage

The Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus that is regularly in our south block is now in the breeding plumage and has been calling from the wattle thicket that is the preferred location, with good cover and long blady grass on the ground.

 

They are very wary birds that tend to drop into the long grass when they sense a threat and are then very difficult to locate. Fortunately today it just moved around in the wattles to give me a chance for photos before it flew off to more distant trees.