Memorandum to: The Director of Birds Australia

From: Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

Date: 1^st March 2007

Voting Members: Tony Palliser Glenn Holmes

Jamie Matthew Danny Rogers

John Hatch Andrew Silcocks

Mike Carter Rohan Clarke

cc: David Stewart

Submission No: 504 Long-tailed Koel Eudynamys taitensis; Nr Kairi, QLD. 6^th August 2004

Verdict: Not Accepted

This case concerns the sighting of a Long-tailed Koel E. taitensis approximately 7km north of Kairi, QLD on the 6^th August 2004. Although rather furtive in nature, the bird was observed for up to 20 minutes by four observers.

The bird was described as large, approximately 45cm in length including the tail, with a brown & tan barred back, wings and tail. The underparts were white, streaked with brown and the head also streaked. The eye color drew the attention of the observers and was a definate yellow with a dark centre and after discussion this feature helped rule out Common Koel and Pheasant Coucal.

Committee members agreed that it is highly likely this bird was a Long-tailed Koel but felt that the description was too brief to warrant acceptance beyond reasonable doubt. Two members of the committee voted in favour of acceptance but the description and the corroborative material was just too brief for the rest.

To date there are no confirmed mainland records.

Selected Bibliography:

• Coates, B.J. & Bishop, K.D. 1997. A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea. Dove Publications, Brisbane.
• del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. 1997. Handbook to the Birds of the World. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
• Payne, R.B. 2005. The Cuckoos. Bird Families of the World. OUP, Oxford.

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee

Compared with Pheasant Coucal and Common Koel but identified as Eudyamys taitensis on basis of yellow eye with black centre.