The Greater Black Coucal is recorded from forest, scrub, and freshwater swamps on New Guinea. Adults have glossy blue-green black plumage, while juveniles look different.
Adults show glossy blue-green black plumage over the head and breast. Juvenile plumage differs from that of adults.
It uses forest, scrub, and freshwater swamps on New Guinea. The account says it occurs mostly at lower elevations but is also recorded higher up.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.