NZ Shining Cuckoo | Chalcites lucidus Photo gallery for ageing and sexing

Characters for distinguishing male and female Shining Cuckoos

Age 2+ male with extensive green plumage on nape and back

Age 2+ male with prominent white spots on rectrix R4

ABSA species guide male rectrix ventral view

Age 2+ female with bronze plumage on nape and back

Age 2+ female with rufus flashes on rectrix R4

ABSA species guide female rectrix ventral view R4

Notes: Other characters including the extent of white on the head and colour of orbital ring can be used to sex cuckoos but variable and require further study to validate.The colour and degree of white spots and rufus flashes is highly variable so a range of criteria should be used to sex birds.

Refer to the Australian Bird Study Association species guide for more information on ageing and sexing

BP29403 Male age 1+, Nelson, October 2025

Pale iris colour and moult around the orbital ring

Green iridescent head with white flecks

Uniform wear across primaries and coverts

Same generation primaries with similar dark shafts and wear

Pale grey underwing coverts

Dorsal view of white spots on rectrix R4

Notes: age (1+) uncertain with the pale lower mandible and head moult around the orbital in October

BP29402 Female age 1+, Nelson, October 2025

Pale iris colour

Bronze tinge flecks on head

Secondaries and tertials similar feather wear

Uniform primary coverts

Pale grey underwing coverts

Dorsal view of rufus flashes on rectrix R4

Notes: potentially a second year bird with lower mandible partially melanised and patchy head plumage

BP29441 Juvenile Female, Nelson, Janauary 2026

Dark iris colour, partially melanised lower mandible and pale yellow-grey gape and orbital ring

Fresh primary coverts and primaries with unifom wear

Dark brown underwing coverts

Ventral rufus flashes on rectrix R4

Dorsal faint rufus flash on rectrix R4

Brown tinges to head, no white flecks

Notes: juvenile with pale lime yellow tinge to underbelly and less distinct bars from chest to the throat

BP29424 Juvenile Male, Nelson, Janauary 2026

Dark iris colour, partially melanised lower mandible green tinged head

Fresh primary coverts and primaries with unifom wear

Dark grey underwing coverts

Ventral white spots on retrix R4

Dorsal white spots on rectrix R4

Green tinges to head with fine white fleck

Notes: juvenile with pale lime yellow tinge to underbelly and less distinct bars from chest to the throat

Examples of standard lighting photographs (window strike cuckoo)

Iridescent bronze head and nape, fully dark melanised bill

Left wing secondaries and greater coverts

Right wing secondaries and greater coverts

Primary coverts and primaries

Primary coverts and four alulae

Ventral rufus flashes on rectrix R4

Dorsal rufus flashes on rectrix R4

Matt brown under wing coverts

Guide to standard photos for adult birds

Guide to standard photos for juvenile birds

BP29418 age 1+ male photographed in shade

BP29418 age 1+ male photographed in sunlight showing plumage irridesence

Notes: Light box images with Smallrig LED and 20% grey background following the guidance by

Feather numbers, wing and tail moult sequence

Moult progresses independently from multiple nodes, P1, P6 and P10

Secondary and tertial feather numbers and moult sequence

Four alulae feather numbers and moult sequence

Moult nodes at rectrix 1(inner feather, R1) and rectix 5, moulting inwards to R1

Ventral apteria, refer to the guide on describing a brood patch

Museums measure bill width from infront of the nostril

Notes: refere to the Shining Cuckoo Project guide for more details on assessing moult and morphometrics for ageing and sexing birds

Examples of moult phenotypes in cuckoos

Dark rachis on primaries P6 to P9 indicate recently replaced and suspended moult

Older generation worn primaries visible at P4 and P9 (right) and P4 and P7 (left wing)

Juvenile growing primary P8 only on left wing, adventitious moult

Primary coverts PC3 to PC7 older worn feathers, suspended moult

Right wing secondary S3 older worn feather, suspended moult

Left wing secondaries S3 and S6 older worn feathers, suspended moult

Notes: refere to the Shining Cuckoo Project guide for more details on assessing moult and morphometrics for ageing and sexing birds

Feather replacement and moult in rectices

BP29405 age 1+, male with white spots and faint rufus flashes on rectrix R4

BP29437 age 1+, female with white and faint rufus flashes on rectrix R4

BP29401 age 1+ male, no white spots on rectrix R4

BP29452 juvenile female, rufus flashes on rectix R4

Juvenile male, replacing left rectrices R3 to R5

BP29418 age 1+ male, left rectrix R3 old, right R4 damaged

Notes: Care is required to distinguish between adventious feather loss/replacement and moult of rectrices. Feather wear and loss is highly varialble in juvenil and older birds. Outer replacement feathers typically have relatively larger white terminal spots than adjacent feathers

BP29401 Male age 1+, Nelson, October & December 2025

Pale iris colour

Secondary feather wear, December 2026

S6 retained, October 2026

Dark grey underwing coverts

Well defined terminal white spot outer rectrix

No white spots on rectrix R4

Notes: potentially a second year bird with worn inner and outer secondaries and no defined spots on rectrix 4

BP29458 Juvenile Female, Nelson, January 2026

Juvenile plumage with bronze tinges on the nape

Juvenile dark iris with pale gape and lower mandible

Primary feathers showing wear to tips and leading edges

Extensive wear to secondary feathers

Under wing showing wear to secondaries and dark brown undercoverts

Dorsal view of rectrices with pale rufus flashes to rectrix 4

Notes: potentially an early fledgling with extensive wear to remiges

BP29455 Second Year Female (TBC) with immature characters; dark iris, melanised bill and incomplete (post juvenile) moult, Nelson, January 2026

Juvenile dark iris and with fully melanised bill (3+ months old)

Head and body with brown colouring

Intermediate plumage - well defined chest bars but dappled cheek (juvenile)

Wrinkeld (residual) brood patch but no engorgment

Left wing fresh (darker) primary coverts PC1-2 and PC8-10, juvenile greater covert 1

Right wing fresh (darker) primary coverts PC1-2 and PC8-10

Left wing, primaries P1 and P2 fresh, secondary S3 worn (juvenile)

Right wing, all primaries show wear to tips, P3 and P6 most faded brown (juvenile)

Age 1+ with pale white belly and well defined bars

Dorsal left rectrices, pale rufus flashes to rectrix R4

Ventral right rectrcies, R5 and R4 replaced with larger terminal white spots

Ventral left rectrices with pale rufus flashes to rectrix R4 and rectrix R1 growing in (shorter)

Notes: more study required to confirm the age and plumage characteristics

BP29420 Juvenile/Second Year Female with immature characters, Nelson, December 2025

Juvenile dark iris and with partially melanised lower mandible

Head and body with brown colouring

Chest with defined bars becoming mottled on the cheeks

Consistent wear across greater coverts and secondaries

Simiar feather wear across remiges, primary P8 with the most wear to the tip

Ventral left rectrices with pale rufus flashes to rectrix R4 and rectrix R1 growing in (shorter)

Notes: more study required to confirm the age and plumage characteristics of post juvenile birds

BP29435 Juvenile/Second Year Female with immature characters, Nelson, January 2026

Juvenile dark iris and with fully melanised bill (early fledgling+)

Head and body with brown colouring

Primary coverts with similar feather wear, slight colour fade to outer coverts

Slight feather wear to primary 8 (right) and primary 7 (left- not shown)

Slight feather wear to secondaries S2 and S3

Ventral left rectrices with pale rufus flashes to rectrix R4 and rectrix R1 growing in (shorter)

Notes: more study required to confirm the age and plumage characteristics of post juvenile birds