The Pheasant Coucal prefers dense under-storey vegetation, particularly grasses, rushes, bracken and sedges, in open forests and woodlands, and around wetlands. They feed on the ground on large insects, frogs, lizards, eggs and young of birds and, sometimes, small mammals. The pheasant Coucal has a deep, hollow “oop-oop-oop-oop” call… as well as a metallic tapping call. This bird has seasonal movements and can often be seen darting out of bushes along roadsides.