Story: Small forest birds

Long-tailed cuckoo

Long-tailed cuckoo

The long-tailed cuckoo (koekoeā), depicted in this lithograph by John Gerrard Keulemans, lays its eggs in the nests of whiteheads, yellowheads or brown creepers. The chicks quickly become larger than their adult hosts – who continue to feed them anyway.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0012-14
Hand-coloured lithograph by John Gerrard Keulemans

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Small forest birds - Cuckoos', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/12501/long-tailed-cuckoo (accessed 23 April 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023