Native to the eastern coast of Australia, the brown cuckoo-dove (Macropygia phasianella) gets its name from its rich brown plumage and silhouette, which are reminiscent of the true cuckoo. However, it is not related to the cuckoo family and builds its own nests. Its long tail, which makes up a huge portion of its body length, is utilised to maintain balance while hanging upside down from flimsy tree branches to reach fruit. Its range spans continuously along the eastern coast from far-north Queensland, all the way south to eastern Victoria.
© BirdsImageStock