Black Cuckoo

Cuculus clamosus

Photo by Alan Manson
Queen Elizabeth Park, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Identification

Length 29-31 cm, mass about 90 g. Plumage is black with a greenish gloss on the upperparts, and black below. Some individuals (more females than males) have rufous and brown barring on the underparts. The bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes brown. The song is distinctive: The male has a loud, monotonous whistle "hoop-hoo whoooo"; also a wild, whirling "whirly, whirly, whirly,.....". In southern Africa call from September to December.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa. Southern African birds are intra-African migrants, arriving in their breeding grounds in September and October.

Taxonomy

There is variation in the colour of the underparts. There are two subspecies: The southern race (described above) is C. c. clamosus and the other is C. c. gabonensis.

Habitat

Forest, woodland, thickets, and plantations.

Behaviour

Generally solitary. Seldom seen, even when calling; usually perched high in a tree. Forages, mainly for caterpillars, in the canopy; sometimes takes prey aerially or on the ground. Also eats other insects, birds eggs and nestlings.

Breeding: A brood parasite; hosts are mainly Laniarius shrikes, including the Tropical Boubou, Southern Boubou, and Crimson-breasted Shrike in southern Africa.

References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533

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